Dakota Goodhouse teaches U.S. history and Native American Studies at the United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck. A student of not only flute playing, but also flute making, Goodhouse questioned elders about when exactly flutes became part of the culture. And I asked Dr. Wood, if he had an idea for me about how long we've had this instrument." It turns out the flute, according to Dr. Wood's research, had been on the northern Great Plains since 1100 AD. And the span of a grandfather's life is remembered amongst our winter count historians, that it is 75 winters, 75 years."