Winter Counts

by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Wacantognaka, one of the seven Lakota values—it meant compassion, generosity, kindness, forgiveness.

Winter counts were the calendar system used by the Lakota, but they weren’t like modern ones. I’d loved the little pictures in the calendars, each

wondered what it was like to live without that weight on your shoulders, the weight of the murdered ancestors, the stolen land, the abused children, the burden every Native person carries.

Wakan Tanka nici un. May the Creator guide you.