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One Hundred Summers: A Kiowa Calendar Record

Decode the Kiowa Calendar

Here are some examples of events recorded by Silver Horn, one calendar keeper for the Kiowa tribe. These are suggestions for similar things you might want to record in your calendar. You will be able to see these drawings at the museum this summer.

People are shown by a drawing, or glyph, of the person's name (such as a bear for Stumbling Bear) or by showing something that was associated with them. The year an important person was born shows their name glyph next to a cradleboard (baby carrier).

 

Important birth

 

The drawing, for the year 1832, shows the birth of an important warrior with a glyph of a cradleboard next to his shield. You might want to show the birth of a baby brother or sister in your calendar.

 

 

 

 

SummerWInter tree

 

In Silverhorn’s calendar a bare tree stands for winter and a decorated pole stands for summer. You could use plants or other symbols to show seasons.

 

 

Visitor

 

 

Some years show special things that happened, such as a visit by an important person. This drawing shows a visit by a member of the Sioux tribe, who is wearing a feather bonnet and shell necklace. You might want to record a visit from a friend or relative in your calendar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tree hill

 

The place something happened is sometimes drawn, such as this picture of “timber hill.” You might want to show special places you visited or make a map of your neighborhood using glyphs.

 

 

 

 

Warrior Initiation

 

This shows a young man being initiated into a warrior society. He is wearing a feather headdress while using a rattle and an eagle bone whistle. You might draw a change in your life such as earning a new badge in boy or girl scouts, having a birthday, or moving up a grade at school.

 

 

 

Make Your Own Calendar Record

A Record of Your Summer Vacation


Materials: plain or lined paper, pencil, crayons or colored pencils.

Now that you know how the symbols, or glyphs work, think about using this system to make a calendar record of your summer vacation. Start out by thinking up a symbol, or glyph, for your name. This could be a drawing showing the traditional meaning of your name, or it could be something about you…a pencil with your style of haircut if you like to draw, a soccer ball with your face on it if you enjoy sports.


Next, record one event each day for a week. On Sunday decide which one of the drawings should represent the entire week. After that, record one drawing per week for the rest of the month. Once this is done, decide on one drawing to represent the entire month.


Record one glyph per month for the rest of the summer. Your drawing should show something interesting that happened each month.


Talk to your family about what they think is the most important event of the month. Explain your drawings to them. You want them to be able to read your calendar!

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