Native children often played with toys that represented activities of adult life, such as this buffalo doll. The American Bison was vitally important to the survival of the Plains Indians, so it shows up in winter counts quite frequently.

Buffalo are depicted or mention in the Hunkpapa winter count for the years 1808, 1824, 1827, 1849, 1861, and 1882.

Buffalo are mentioned in Lone-Dog's winter count for the years 1816-'17, 1845-'46, and 1861-'62. Also, buffalo are associated with making "medicine" and miraculous occurances for the years 1843-'44, 1850-'51, 1858-'59, and 1860-'61.