Coup Sticks

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Coup Sticks

• By Shannon Lecates

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The Purpose of a Coup Stick

• A coup stick is a strong symbol of the native
  Americans culture. It is to show bravery and it
  proves coup.
• To use a coup stick a man would, instead of
  killing an enemy, get close enough to touch his
  enemy.
• To prove a touch was done they would mark the
  stick with a feather or bead, one for each
  victim.
• Each tribe would mark it a different way with a
  different symbol.
• A coup stick can be any length and is usually
  covered with a leather or animal skin. Its
  decorations all symbolize something to do with
  the Indian's tribe or culture.

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Why Native Americans Admired
Coup Sticks

• Native Americans honored coup sticks because they
  showed courage and boldness.
• They believed that if you were brave enough to
  get close to your enemy and tap him with a
  stick, then escape that it was very honorable.

• equals
• Boldness
• and
• Courage

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The Ideas That Validated the Creation
of the Coup Stick

• Indians believed it was to easy to kill an enemy
  from a distance.
• They believed it was braver to touch your enemy
  and escape.
• So they created the coup stick, the ceremonies,
  and the customs to go with it.

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I think Ill Make some thing besides a spear and
Ill call it a coup stick
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What Coup Sticks Are Used for Today and
Who Uses Them

• Today coup sticks are used more than you would
  think they are.
• People on reservations honor them greatly.
• People who want to honor there ancestors also
  have them.
• People dont necessarily have to use a coup stick
  to honor the people who owned it before them.

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What I Would Suggest Instead of a Coup Stick,
and the Changes I Would
Make

• Instead of a coup stick I would suggest a rock.
  What my idea would be, instead of a coup stick,
  someone would take a rock and throw it at an
  enemy. To mark it someone would have to tie a
  bead to it.
• If I had to keep the coup stick I would make It
  easier to understand so no one would get
  confused. I would also mark it with something
  besides feathers!

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A Closer Look