In the old days, the traditional Native Americans often recorded their history on hides by drawing pictures. Each picture was meant to be symbolic of a special event, remembrance of a beloved ancestor or famous person, success in a hunt, or sometimes simple daily life incidents. These pictures were their stories - their family history for the year.

The ancestors recorded their history in many ways, by paintings on rocks (pictographs), carvings on rock (petroglyphs), effigy mounds (massive earth works), geoglyphs (arranging rocks into images on the ground), and by painting on hides (Winter Counts).

Sometimes they would take strings and make special knots to help them remember certain events. They would also write or draw images on a piece of bark or birch bark scrolls. Images on a tipi, clothing and sometimes tattooed on their skin told of their history.

In the Pacific Northwest and Canada ,totem poles were made to depict family or clan history and ancestral lineage. These are very creative, beautiful and very impressive.

The Winter Count served as their calendar, or record, of the previous year and each year was given a special name based on a memorable event. This gave them the ability to place their history in chronological order. Events were recorded within a year after they occurred. This gave the people a very purposeful, enjoyable and relaxing way to spend part of their winter when they spent most of their time indoors.

What a wonderful way to spend part of your winter with your family. To gather at a family member's home, while someone is cooking up some wonderful fry bread and other snacks, a beloved Grandmother or Grandfather telling stories and at the same time work on your Winter Count with the help of your children, would be a truly memorable family gathering and a time to cherish.

Make it a tradition in your family and you will not only be bringing them together for relaxation and fun, but you will be keeping alive your ancestral heritage and the ways of the ancestors. This is an excellent way to teach your children and grandchildren how it was in the old days. It will also teach them the ritual of carrying on family and tribal traditions and culture and instill the importance of the past - their history.

To make a Winter Count you will need a fairly good size piece of buckskin (or muslin), large enough to record all the events you wish. If you use muslin, trim the edges in such a manner that it would simulate the natural edges of a hide. Make a list first, having your children helping you, of every important or memorable occasion that occurred throughout the year. Gather acrylic paints, crayons, beads, embroidery floss, yarns, or any medium/supplies you feel you will need in order to draw or make images. Remember, this is not an alphabetical or numerical calendar - it is all to be done in images. For instance, if your Grandfather and Father had gone hunting and managed to get a deer or two to provide the family with venison for the winter, then draw an image of a buck, Grandfather and Father and the manner in which they got the deer, and do not forget an image showing their prayer of thanks to Great Spirit and to the spirit of the deer. Use your imagination and you will be surprised what you can come up with. If there was a terrific storm that year with lighting and thunder, draw your home and lightning bolts. At the top of your Winter Count, put the name you have chosen for that year.

What a wonderful, thoughtful and loving gift to give to Grandfather and Grandmother to hang on their wall!

I would love to see the results if you would like to go to the Native American forum and share your Winter Count picture with others. Just go to www.bellaonline.com and to the Native American forum and post your story of how you made the Winter Count and if you can, add a picture.

Have fun!
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