en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pueblo_Revolt

During the Spanish colonization of the Pueblo peoples of New Mexico, the Franciscan missionaries and Spanish authorities tried to ban various aspects of traditional Pueblo life. This included many of their religious rituals like dances and Kachina dolls. A Tewa indian known as Pope organized a revolt among the various Pueblo peoples. This was difficult to organize as they lived in villages apart from each other and many spoke completely unrelated languages. However, in order to help organizing the revolt, runners were sent to the surrounding villages with a cord with knots. Each day the runners would release a knot and when they were all undone the revolt would start. The Pueblo Revolt succeeded, kicked the Spanish out, and became one of the first successful revolts against a European colonial power.

Today, many aspects of Pueblo life that Pope protected are still practiced by the Pueblo peoples.

However, in order to help organizing the revolt, runners were sent to the surrounding villages with a cord with knots. Each day the runners would release a knot and when they were all undone the revolt would start.

This is brilliant. And would be an awesome premise for a movie.