Ring Bull Winter Count

Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum, St. Francis, SD

Translation © by Linea Sundstrom, 2003 - Updated November 2007

linea.sundstrom@gmail.com

Note: This winter count is quite similar to that of Iron Shell, published in The Sioux, by Royal Hassrick; however, it has some years that are different from Iron Shell’s. A Miniconjou or Brule authorship is most likely, based on the similarities to Iron Shell’s account. My notes are in brackets; Buechel’s notes are in parentheses, as they appear on the original. I have not attempted to put the spelling into any of the standard Lakota orthographies. Buechel recorded two versions of each year name—that originally taken down and a later revision. In other words, two copies of the winter count are on file in the Buechel archives. These are both given in the list below The third line of each entry is my translation. I have used the symbol h for the dotted h used in Buechel’s orthography, because my word processing program does not have the dotted h.--LS

Ring Bull
Waniyetu yawapi 4/22.17 (1917)
Bull Ring’s

1808-09
1. Cega cica wan cán kante.
Cega cinca wan cán kate.
Kettle’s child was killed by a tree.

1809-10
2. Capa cika ti ile.
Cápa cika ti ile.
Little Beaver’s house burned.
[This was a white trader, probably Loisel.]

1810-11
3. Sinte wa ki’ju aglipi.
Sinte aki’ju aglipi.
They brought back horses with decorated tails.

1811-12
4. Waniyetu wica akiran. (9 Cloud Shield’s)
Waniyetu wica akik’an.
The people were starving in winter.

1812
5. Wizi ik’icazopi.
Wizi ikicazopi.
Old Tent or yellow buckskin gave them credit
[There are several interpretations for this year name. The most probable is that a trader kept accounts on “yellow buckskin”—i.e. maintained an account book. This would have been one of the first, if not the first time the Lakotas had seen paper, so it would be natural to equate it to their own medium for written records, the tanned hide.]

1813
6. Iworara yuha iwaktekli pi.
Iwohaha yuha iwákteglipi.
They brought back the scalp of an enemy who had a rifle.

1814
7. Wita paha tu karura pi.
Witapahátu kahugapi.
They smashed the Kiowa’s skull.
[This was at Scott’s Bluff, Nebraska, and was the Oglalas’ way of refusing an offer of peace from the Kiowas. Witapahato is an old name for the Black Hills (the blue island hill) and for those who lived there before the Lakotas. It is applied most often to the Kiowas.]

1815
8. Wicarcala otunwaheta ipi na. [another word hard to decipher]
Wicahcala otunwaheta (waslinyle??) ipi na tapi.
[I am unable to translate this. Wicahcala is “old man” or “father-in-law.” The rest seems to refer to dressing or putting on some clothing or ornament.]

1816
9. Rkluta atkuku ta.
Hluta atkuku te.
Long Neck’s father died.
[Other winter counts refer to the killing or wounding of Wounded Heel for this year.]

1817
10. Hohu napoktan un ta.
Hohú napóktan u? ta.
Bone Bracelet died.

1818
11. I’ozi ti tanka kicaga pi.
Iozi ti tanka kicagapi.
Yellow Eyes had a house built. [Another white trader; perhaps LaFramboise.]

1819
12. Hekaka najin tatanka ktepi.
Hekaka nájin tatanka ktepi.
A buffalo killed Standing Elk.

1820
13. “Joze” titanka kicara pi.
“Józe” titanka kicagapi.
Joseph had a house built. [Another white trader.]

1821-22
14. Wicaripi wan hoton hiyaye.
Wicahpi wan hoton hiyaye.
A star passed by crying out.

1822-23
15. “Waskula” húspan.
“Waskúla” húspan.
Peeler broke his leg.
[A white trader who had a habit of whittling. Most accounts say that he froze his feet.]

1823 Lakota-, 24
16. wasicun ob watakpe ai
sametime: wagmeza sica oti.
(Lakota) wasicun ob watákpe ai
wagmeza seca oti
They attacked with the whites.
Much dry corn (or much bad corn).
[This refers to Leavenworth’s attack on the Arikara. The Lakotas who helped attack the village raided the Arikara corn fields.]

1824
17. “Maga waksa” únyan ktepi.
“Maga waksa” unyan glipi.
White Goose was lost coming back.
[That is, the war party returned without White Goose.]

1825-26
18. ____ ta pi [undeciperable]
(Sa?óni) Mni tapi
Killed in a flood.
[A flash flood of the Missouri at Horsehead Point wiped out an entire village. The term “Sa?óni” may refer to the northern or Saone division of the Lakotas.]

1826
19. Cag ayuslohan watokiupi.
Cah ayuslohan watoksupi.
They used sleds for transportation on the ice.

1827
20. Huste’wan takosku katiye kiye.
Huste’wa? takósku katiyekiye.
Lame shot his son-in-law.

1828-29
21. Miwata ni ota wicaktepi.
Miwátani ota wicaktepi.
They killed many Mandans.

1829
22. Wahin hun sicangu wakicaga.
Wahi?yun sicangu wakicaga.
Brule man, Arrowhead, held a ceremony.

1830-31
23. Tatankaptesán ota wica opi.
Tatanka ptesán ota wicáopi.
They wounded many white buffalo cows.

1831
24. “Komela” [Gomula] ob wanitipi. [indecipherable note about this name]
“Komela” ob wanitipi. (southern Indian)
Komela camped with them.
[Komela apparently is the Lakota version of Kootenai, a tribe living in the western Rockies.]

1832
25. Mato bloka Omaha wa kte.
“Mato bloka” Omaha wa? kte.
Male Bear killed an Omaha.

1833-34
26. Wicarpi okicamna.
Wicahpi okicamna.
The storm of stars.
[Leonid meteor shower.]

1834
27. (Sahiyelu) wanbli kuwa wan ktepi.
Wa?bli kuwa (Siyela) wan ktepi.
The Cheyenne eagle hunter was killed.

1835-36
28. (Scili) wowapi yuha nunp wicaktepi.
Wowapi yuha nunp (Scili) wicaktepi.
Two Skiri Pawnee banner-bearers [war leaders] were killed.

1833-37
29. Car akici inpi (on Platte River).
Cah akicii?pi (Platte River).
They fought on the ice [of the Platte River].

1837
30. Wan nawega wicaktepi.
Wa? nawega wicaktepi.
The Broken Arrow band was massacred.
[Some winter counts say this was an intertribal dispute.]

1838-39
31. Sunknáskinyan cincá ahiktepi.
Sungnáskinyan cincá ahiktepi.
Mad Wolf’s son was killed in battle.

1839-40
32. Watákpe wica akikan.
Watakpe wica akihan.
Watakpe=to attempt to seize akihan = to be hungry or fasting
They attacked [the enemy] while starving.
[A war party could not find food on their return trip and came home starving.]

1840
33. Hoksila zaptan ahiwicaktepi.
Hoksila zaptan ahiwicaktepi.
Five young men were killed together.
[Five “brothers” of Little Thunder were killed in a battle with the Crows.]

1841
34. Kipázo wayaka wan akli.
Kipázo (Lakota) wayaka wa? agli.
Pointer held a Ghost Keeping ceremony.

1842
35. Hoksila nump iwakte wicaketpi.
Note on original ms: This is correct. He claims to be 78 years old in 1920 and that he was born in the year “hoksila nump kte.” Hoksila nump iwákte wicaglipi. (Big Turkey was born in this year; he claims to be 78 years old in 1920, correct.)
Two young men were killed on their way back home.

1843-44
36. Wawakan akli pi (of Wh. Ck.)
Wawákan aglipi (of Wh. Ck.)
The sacred arrow was returned.
[The Brules retrieved two of the Cheyenne sacred arrows that had been captured by the Skiri Pawnees and returned one or both to the Cheyennes.]

1844
37. Sónson atku kata.
Su?su? atkuku ta.
Mule’s father died.

1845-46
38. Nawica sli.
Nawicasli.
Measles or smallpox.
[Although the “sli” suffix connotates oozing, and thus would be the correct term for ulcerative skin eruptions like smallpox and chickenpox, the term is used for both smallpox and measles. Wicahanhan is also used for smallpox.]

1846
39. Wicaske kagapa.
Wicicaske kagapi.
The made ornaments of long strips.
[Eaton Winter Count for 1821 says “Mato wanyanka wicicaske kecaga pelo. They made a one-way suspender for Seize the Bear. Only worn by men who had scalps, etc. to prove they were brave.” This may refer to the production of the famous Dog Soldier sashes, which warriors used to tether themselves in place during a battle.]

1847
40. Kangi wanbli capapi.
Kangi wa?bli capapi.
Eagle Crow was stabbed.

1848
41. Psaloka ___ [sunk?] ma nunpi tanka.
Psáloka sunkmanompi tanka.
Crows attempted a big horse raid.

1849
42. Psa wanjila ktepi.
Psa wanjila ktepi.
Lone Reed was killed.

1850-51
43. Wicaranran ob.
Wicahanhan ob.
Measles or smallpox epidemic.

1851-52
44. Wakpamni pi tanka.
Wakpamnipi tanka.
A big distribution.
[Refers to the treaty conference at Fort Laramie.]

1852-53
45. Waniyetu wasma.
Waniyetu wasma.
Deep snow winter.

1853-54
46. “Rna” ta.
“Hna” te.
Grunts-like-a-Bear died.
[When a bear came into the camp and was killed. Apparently the bear “took a virgin”—that is, touched a young girl, thereby claiming her as his own. The people thought this was a great joke, as seems to be reflected here in giving the intruder the name “Grunts-like-a-Bear.” Conquering Bear also died at this time, so it is possible that the year name refers to that event instead.]

1854
47. Maziska ota.
Mazaska ota.
Much money.

1855
48. Sina winye ota.
Sina winye ota.
Many shawls or pieces of cloth.
[Hardin Winter Count shows a tipi with several banners on poles around it; High Hawk give “many offerings” for 1856.]

1856
49. “Waksaksa” ta.
“Waksáksa” ta.
Cut-Up died.

1857-58
50. Tatank ta te ai (Wh. Ck.)
Tatank tate ai.
Chasing Bull died, or they hunted only bulls.
[Several counts noted that they happened to kill only bulls on a hunt.]

1858
51. Wakmaza yuha wa kicaragapi.
Wagmeza yuha wakicahagapi.
A Corn Owner held a ceremony.
[Lone Dog Winter Count says, “One Horn keeps a spirit lodge.” This probably is the same event; Corn Owners was the name of a Brule band.]

1859-60
52. Kangin tanka ahiktepi.
“Kangi tanka” ahiktepi.
Big Crow was killed in battle.

1860-61
53. Hoksicala sotapi.
Hoksicala sotapi.
The babies were used up [by sickness].

1861-62
54. Hanska tiyápa ktepi.
Si hanska tiyápa ktepi.
Long Foot’s camp was killed.

1862-63
55. Hoksila wan tiwekna ahiwaspapi.
Hoksila wa? tiwegna ahiwa spapi.
A boy was cut to pieces near the camp.

1863
56. Owáci nablece.
Owáci nablece.
A dance was introduced. (The Omaha or Grass dance.)
[Iron Shell Winter Count says that a dance was broken up.]

1864
57. Tasunke hinsa wasicu ktepi.
Tasunke hi?sa wasicu? ktepi.
White American Horse was killed.
[This could mean that a white haired horse was killed.]

1865-66
58. (Whiteman) “Harca ota” olákot kage.
“Harca ota” (whiteman) olákot kage.
Many Deer [Maynadier] made an agreement with the people.

1866-67
59. Wasicu opawinge wica ktepi. (Am. Horse)
Paha aka wanitipi.
Wasicu? opawinge wicaktepi. (Am. Horse)
Paha akan wanitipi.
One hundred white men were killed.
On the Hill [or mountain-dweller] camped with them.
[Perhaps, when a Shoshone—Rocky Mountain person-- came into their camp and was killed.]

1867
60. Omaha ob kiciga ju.
Omaha ob kicigapi.
They attacked the Omaha.

1868
61. Hogan tawican ta.
Hogan tawican ta.
Fish’s wife died.

1869-70
62. Unpa wi ta.
Anpa wi [wan] te.
The Sun died. (A solar eclipse.)

1870
63. Ota apela ahiktepi.
“Ota apela” ahiktepi.
Many Strikes was killed in battle.

1871
64. Kipa zo pte hi ko.
Kipázo ptéhiko.
Pointer said buffalo would come quickly.
[A buffalo-calling ceremony failed. Pointer or Points-the-Way is the man’s name.]

1872
65. “Ptehila” mnita.
“Ptehila” mnita.
Cow Tooth drowned.
[Iron Shell gives, “Old woman fell from a bank and died.”]

1873-74
66. Sicli ota wicaktepi. (Cloud Shield)
Sicli ota wicaktepi. (cf. Cloud Shield)
They killed many Skiri Pawnee.

1874-75
67. Sapa wicasa (Utes) sunkma [indecipherable] wakeya pagmu_pi kpamnipi.
Sapa wicasa (Utes) sunkmanopi (cf. Cloud Shield)
The Utes came and stole many horses.

1875
68. Mata kleska ahiktepi.
Matogleska ahiktepi.
Wakeya pagnunpi kpamnipi.
Spotted Bear was killed in battle.
They had two distributions in a tent?
[Perhaps, when Bull Head held a Ghost Keeping ceremony. Maybe he gave away two tents or two tents full of goods.]

1876-77
69. Pahinhanska ketpi.
Olakot kagapi.
Pehinhanska (Custer) ketpi.
Olakot kagapi.
Long Hair was killed.
The Lakotas surrendered.

1877-78
70. Tasunka witko ktepi.
Tasunka witko ktepi.
Na on opáwoju ekta ia.
Crazy Horse was killed. They went to plant together for the first time.

1878-79
71. Toka canpagmi yanpi yuke.
Toká canpagmiyanpi yuke. (cf. White Cow Killer)
They were issued wagons.

1879
72. Toka waya wa ai. (Carlisle)
Toká waya wa ai. (Carlisle)
They went to the strangers’ school.

1880
73. Wahu keza huha ta.
Wahúkeza yuha ta.
Spear Carrier died.