October 21 -24

I can explore culture and traditions that are passed down through generations to understand heritage (grade 2 social studies).

I can explore Canadian heritage in the form of stories, art, ceremonies, Elders, land, and architecture (grade 2 social studies).

A Winter Count on a buffalo hide by Ira Provost (Galt Museum, Lethbridge)

In grade 2 we learned about an important Blackfoot tradition. The Winter Count was celebrated on the fist day of snow for the season; a community would gather together and celebrate the events of the year from first snowfall to first snowfall. The Winter Count was recorded using pictures on a buffalo hide.

An Elder would select the most important thing that happened since the last winter, to be drawn on the Winter Count. The Elders also had the job of reading the Winter Counts from past years.

The Blackfoot language is an oral language and history is passed down from generation to generation by telling stories. Artifacts such as Winter Counts are not only a beautiful piece of art, but they serve to help remember important stories from the past.

On Monday, the snow began to fall for the first time this year, so after learning about the Winter Count, we came together in our classroom and talked about some of the important events in our own lives from first snowfall (October of grade one) to first snowfall (Monday). Students shared many stories of personal significance; we celebrated milestones and events, and acknowledged the loss of some loved ones.

Next, we took time to create our own Winter Counts. Instead of choosing just one important event to record, students chose several and recorded them using small pictures in a spiral pattern, similar to the ones we looked at on buffalo hides.