The tragic story of the declining Native American population brought George Winter to the frontier in what is now Indiana to see and record native peoples. In July of 1837, Winter witnessed the council at Lake Kee-wau-nay (today Lake Bruce), which was held prior to the forced migration of the Potawatomi Indians to Kansas. These figures are very likely studies of council participants and spectators.

In his sketches, Winter focused more on ethnological accuracy than artistry and idealism. He captured characteristics of the individuals and minutia of dress, including shawls wrapped like turbans and colorful muslin shirts accented with large decorative ruffles.