Originally featured in Points West in Winter 2011
A winter count is a record of tribal history. Each year the keeper of the count added one symbol, representing a significant event from that year. Lone Dog’s count, painted and drawn on muslin, records the years 1800 to 1871, beginning in the center and spiraling out counter-clockwise.
Winter counts were originally painted on buffalo robes and were often maintained through several generations and shared with other tribal members to help them remember their histories.
Lone Dog, winter count. Sioux. NA.702.5
Post 135
