Warfare



Warfare
Wars occurred from time to time among the Native Americans. Usually however, the chiefs of disagreeing tribes would meet in council to try to settle a disagreement. But warfare might result if the council could not settle a dispute.
	Weapons The bow and arrow was probably the most common Indian weapon. The bows were whittled from tough wood and shaped in a double curve. Arrows were made with a sharp stone head. Feathers were lashed to the arrow butt to make it fly straight.
Counting Coup Interestingly, the Plains people considered it braver to touch a live enemy and get away than to kill the enemy. This act was known as counting coup (pronounced koo). Touching an enemy’s teepee or stealing his horse were also counted as coups.
Warriors on the Plains carried a coup stick into battle and attempted to touch an enemy with it.		Plains men in their magnificent head-dresses
Those warriors who counted coup were given eagle feathers as signs of their courage, which they wore in their war bonnets or head-dresses into battle. The warriors or ‘braves’ painted their faces and bodies to make themselves look fiercer.
After the Europeans came, warfare became more common. It became the main way of settling disputes between the Natives and the Whites. The Europeans took up the native style of warfare -ambush, surprise attack, and quick withdrawal. The Natives began to use the Europeans' guns and other weapons. back to top

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