The Midewiwin Scrolls

White men looked down on Native societies for many reasons, one allegation being that they lacked any way of keeping track of their own history, as any civilized society would do.  Natives were, in fact, astute and accurate historians with several different methods of keeping track of events in their tribal history.  In addition to oral tradition, some tribes had other methods of recording important events.  Wampum was one method.  Markings on birch bark, pottery, hides or other surfaces was another.

The Midewiwin Society was a religious society found in some Eastern Woodlands tribes.  They were tasked with keeping the sacred, medicinal and historical knowledge of their people.  Tribes with these Societies, sometimes called Grand Medicine Societies including the Abenaki, Wampanoag, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Ottawa, Fox, Sac and Winnebago, among others.  There were male and female practitioners and their knowledge was passed along on scrolls made from birch bark.  Other materials that could easily be made into flat surfaces might also be used, including hides, copper plates, pottery and the like.  These scrolls would be inscribed and used in ceremonies, then hidden away for safekeeping.  The information they contained could be added to as needed.  One scroll located by archaeologists dated to the 1560's.