Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Montana State Park of the Week Visions of Chief Plenty Coup Project

We're excited to tell you about our "Visions of Chief Plenty Coups Documentary Project."

Our project aims to showcase a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tell the story of Chief Plenty Coups and his role in the inaugural ceremony of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

On November 9th, The Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard from Pryor, MT, traveled to Arlington, VA, to participate in the 100th-anniversary ceremonies of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

With Crow Nation ceremonial drummers, dancers, and tribal leaders, the Honor Guard honored their legendary leader Chief Plenty Coups, who 100 years ago was selected by his fellow Native American Chiefs to represent all native tribes at the inaugural ceremonies of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

We were lucky enough to not only witness the event but also document it.

The "Visions of Chief Plenty Coups" project will create a compelling documentary film that captures the story of Chief Plenty Coups' participation in the inaugural ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

It will also document the subsequent involvement of the Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard, dancers, and drumming group at the 100th anniversary earlier this week.

Chief Plenty Coups' home and the legacy he left behind are represented at his namesake State Park near Pryor, MT, on the Crow Reservation. This documentary represents a chance to tell the story of the leadership of his tribe and the role he played in US history to a broader audience.

Native American filmmakers from Montana are leading this important project.

The Visions of Chief Plenty Coups film will document the lead-up and preparations made by the Honor Guard and others and their participation in the 100th-anniversary ceremony.

The film will include historical footage and other resources to tell the story of Chief Plenty Coups' involvement in the inaugural event in 1921 and his visionary leadership as the last Chief of the Crow Tribe.

Upon completion, we'll work to share the film with educators, state park partners, tribal partners, and regional media outlets across the West.The film will tie a nationally significant event to tribal and state park interests in Montana and provide context to this culturally historic milestone that happened over 100 years ago.

It will also tell the story of a new generation of tribal members traveling to the Tomb to participate in the 100th-anniversary ceremony as a rare opportunity to provide cultural and historical context to an event that many passionate historians overlook.

It is the perfect time to revisit the significance of the Chief Plenty Coups, the history of the tribe, the story of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the State Park that bears the Chief's name.

The Montana State Parks Foundation is seeking funding to ensure this historical event is documented, and the story is told in a meaningful way.

We plan to hire tribal filmmakers, editors, and other specialists as needed to properly shoot, edit, and produce a documentary-style film that can be shared across many platforms.

Additional funding is needed for principal photography, video editing, film distribution, and travel expenses for the Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard members. Donate today at https://www.montanastateparksfoundation.org/visions-of-chief-plenty-coups.

 

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