Siksika Nation Winter Count

28/09/2007 (Prepared and researched by Mervin J. Wolfleg)

SIKSIKA WINTERCOUNT 1800 – 1900 c.e. (19th Century)

Buffalo: Siksika

1800 45-60M 18,000
1807 Old Sun born
1836 Crowfoot born (Old Sun ca 29)
1838 Smallpox epidemic – 6,000 die 12,000
1843 Wars with Cree, Assiniboine and whites 8,000
Forced south of Red Deer River
1854 Wars with Sarcee, Crow, Snakes (2x); famine 6,000
1855 Yellow River Treaty with U.S.A.
1860 (ca 54)
1861 Old Sun’s father dies (also called Old Sun)
1864 Small pox epidemic
1869 End of small pox epidemic 15 million 4,000
1870 US Army massacre 700 Piegan at Montana
Of mostly women and children. Siksika leave
USA territory. Confederacy split for first time.
1871 (ca 65) (ca 36)
1872 Chief Big Swan dies. Old Sun and Crowfoot 7 million
Become head chiefs of North Blackfoot and
South Blackfoot, respectively.
1874 North West Mounted Police enter Confederacy
1876 Sioux fight US Calvary at Little Big Horn.
1877 Blackfoot signs Treaty #7 with Queen
1878 Prairie fires; buffalo is scarce
1879 Famine 2,000
1880 No buffalo. Siksika go to USA to search
1883 Canadian Pacific Railroad built.
1884 Famine
1885 Riel’s Metis and Crees fight British.
1890 Chief Crowfoot dies. (ca.54) 1,000 500
Siksika returns from USA
1897 Chief Old Sun dies. (c.a 90)