The Little Wound Tribal School team selected several items from the NMAI collection to illustrate aspects of Lakota and Dakota history and culture that are represented in the winter counts. They also wrote some essays on several issues brought up in the winter counts. Click on the pictures to see details about each item.

A common painting tool for the winter count keepers were bone "brushes."

To prepare animal skins for use as a painting surface they had to be scraped clean with a hide scraper.

The pipe, or camulet, is depicted on winter counts to indicate important decisions, such as naming a leader or going to war.

Tipis, the portable shelter of many plains tribes, are featured frequently in winter counts. (Two QTVRs of tipis are offered: tipi 1 & tipi 2.)

European diseases frequently had devastating effects on the tribes. They are documented on the winter counts several times.

Plains tribes depended on buffalo for their survival.

Sitting Bull was an important Native American leader. He is featured in the Hunkpapa winter count several times.

Gall was another Lakota leader who is mentioned twich on the Hunkpapa winter count.

Many Plains Indians took up agriculture. A hoe made from an animal bone.