I'm in central U.S. I have not heard this term, looks. I have researched it for about five minutes and do not see an explanation. From the context I'd guess it is representing a distance travelled. A person could travel the distance to a landmark, like a tree or hill. Then travel another short distance to another landmark. Not finding what they want, they could safely return using the landmarks. There is a word used in some Native American cultures called, "Sleeps." It represents a unit of time meaning the hours a person sleeps. This seems similar and perhaps more research within the Native American cultures would help you.