Knowledge keeper Wayne Goodwill put over 50 hours into hand painting the Winter Count Robe that was presented to the University of Regina on Thursday.

Goodwill, 81, who is from Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation, is one of the last known Winter Count Robe painters in Saskatchewan.

A Winter Count is a form of traditional pictorial storytelling that has been used for over 600 years.

Symbols are painted or drawn onto an animal hide, usually in a circular arrangement, and each symbol tells a story or recalls an event in history.

“Right from the beginning of the horse days, to the treaties, to the residential school days,” said Goodwill, pointing to the artwork, “And to the new university, back here with the buffaloes, and the university students.”

The information told through the Winter Count is based on over 200 years of history from Indigenous peoples of Saskatchewan.

Goodwill said he got the knowledge of their history from his grandfather.

“My grandfather used to say, I’m only going to tell you this story only once, not tell you over and over. And this is how we had to listen. And that’s what would be nice if people listened like that today.”

In an article released by U of R Communications, the university said they are “honoured” to have been gifted the robe.

Representatives of the university were in attendance including President Dr. Jeff Keshen and associate vice-president of Indigenous Engagement, Lori Campbell.

“It’s a decolonizing tool,” said Campbell, “It’s presenting knowledge in a format that’s different than our basic colonial ways of looking at books and reading articles.”

Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty, the first Indigenous person in Saskatchewan to hold the title, was also present for the unveiling.

“It really is important for us as Indigenous people to be connected to our history,” said Mirasty, “but it’s also important for us to share it so that we create that broader understanding that we continue to strive for.”

Campbell echoed the importance of understanding Indigenous history.

“Only once we understand the truth are we ever going to be able to move ahead towards reconciliation,” said Campbell.

The last image in the painting, which relates to the present day, is a depiction of buffalo surrounding the First Nations University building.

“The buffalo brought us a long ways, we have to learn new ways,” said Goodwill.

“Education is important, very important for all of us. But yet, we must retain our old way. Your language is most important. If you have your language, you will understand your culture, your traditions. Without it, just like reading a book and throwing it aside.”

Goodwill said he was happy to gift his Winter Count Robe to the university and he hopes it will encourage education about the history of First Nations people on the Plains.

“I figured, with this knowledge here with the hide painting, once it’s interpreted all the way around, people will have a better idea of what was happening to [Indigenous people], right up to today,” he said.

The robe will be housed in the Office of Indigenous Engagement on campus for students to view and learn from.