Sheldon Raymore - Winter Counts on Buffalo Hide

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This video was filmed by Tony Enos at the Admiral’s House on Governors Island at the American Indian Community House’s residency on June 9th, 2019. It shows a span of years from 1978 to 2018.

In the Lakota-Sioux language the words "Waniyetu Wowapi" translate to "Winter Count." Winter Count images marked a notable occurrence amongst the Sioux people as a timeline of most memorable year in events.

These collections of Winter Count catalogues (traditionally etched, painted, and/or drawn on deer, elk, antelope or buffalo hides later muslin fabric) are a pictorial accounting of the past 40 years happenings. Ultimately serving as a traditional "history book." With - Tradition As Prevention - as a core value of the Winter Count Project, it is this traditional way of preserving information for generations to come that is being revised and reclaimed, as we continue to battle the HIV/AIDS epidemic in native communities.

Much of the artwork I create allows us to reconnect with the action steps my ancestors used in making the ancient etching and stamping of winter counts. The hand drawn technique of creating a pattern for the image, painting, cutting of patterns, stretching of leather hide, and storytelling while working return us to a world of the grandmothers and grandfathers. I use a sense of smell to invoke the ancestral connection when painting on brain tanned hides. At the same time creating these pictorial images of modern day events with the soundscapes of helicopters, cars, planes, boats, skyscrapers, and people of the urban reality in the background, allows participants to revive a tradition my ancestors might have done. I use colors from the regional location that are earth based. Colors that can organically be made using traditional dying techniques like green for grass, earth iron mud for brown, berries for reds, and ash for black. As a second generation tipi maker there's a connection that transcends time and space. It's a connection to my father who taught me, and a connection to my elder's who've kept the traditions of storytelling alive.

Project was created and directed by Sheldon Raymore (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe)

Lakota Language Consultants:
Phillip Stands Quigley (Rosebud Sioux Tribe)
Lone Quigley (Rosebud Sioux Tribe)
Waniya Locke (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) / Lakota Language Consortium

Project Cultural Advisors:
Ben Geboe (Yankton Sioux Tribe)
Phillip Dallas Stands (Rosebud Sioux Tribe)

Winter Count Mentors and Consultants:
Phillip Dallas Stands (Rosebud Sioux Tribe)
Dr. Thomas Red Owl Haukass (Rosebud Sioux Tribe)

Project National HIV/AIDS Specialists Advisors:
Richard Haverkate (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians) National HIV/AIDS & Hep C Program Coordinator, Indian Health Service Headquarters
Elton Naswood (Navajo) - Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC)

Indian Health Service Data Timeline Author: Carolyn Melanani Kuali'i (Hawaiian/Mescalero Apache) Executive Director of KUA'AINA Associates

Project HIV/AIDS New York State Regional Specialist Advisors:
Tony Enos (Echota Cherokee) Public Health and Clinical HIV Consultant
Talia Shenandoah (Mohawk) former American Indian Community House HIV/AIDS Wish Syracuse, New York Employee