Women’s Traditional Dance requires grace, stamina and concentration. Women move their feet in time with the Drum keeping them close to the ground. The Women’s Traditional
Regalia will usually include a fringed shawl, which is folded over one arm and represents the nurturing mothers provide for their families.

They may also carry an awl knife case on the belt and an Eagle feather fan. Their Regalia will feature beautiful beadwork, which is usually created by the Female Dancer, with colors and designs that reflect their Nation and Clan affiliation. Most of the patterns seen around Midwestern states are those of floral designs and woodland colors.

This is the oldest form of Dance throughout Indian Country. Men’s Traditional Dancers will wear a single bustle containing Eagle feathers, which are considered sacred to Indian people. While Dancing, it is said that their movements represent hunting and battling an enemy. Several items worn represent their own personal story and Tribal Nation. They also will wear items that reflect what was worn by early warriors such as: A breast plate made of animal bones or a shell for protection against arrows; a neck choker for protection against knives; ankle bells or deer hooves; and a shield made of hide with their Nation designs and Clan added to them.

This Dance comes from the northern Minnesota area and was introduced to the other Indian communities by the Ojibwa people. The story about the jingle dress says a medicine man’s granddaughter was very ill. He had a dream in which a spirit wearing the dress came to him and told him to make one of these dresses and put it on his granddaughter to cure her. When he awoke, he and his wife proceeded to assemble the dress, as described by the spirit in his dream. When the dress was finished, they brought his granddaughter to the Dance and she put the dress on.

During the first circle around, she needed to be carried. As she began to complete the second circle around the room, she could barely walk, and several women had to assist her while she began to walk slowly. During the third circle, she could walk without any assistance, and during the fourth circle around the room, she Danced. The dress, today, is known as a healing dress and is made of cloth with jingles attached to it which are made from snuff lids. Most dresses have 365 cones on them, which represents the yearly cycle. While making a dress, one is to say a prayer for each cone – adding one cone to the dress for each day of the year. In Michigan, the dress was introduced into the Pow Wow setting in the 1980s – before then, the dress was only worn and used in lodge Healing Ceremonies.

The Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance is one of the more modern Dances. Some say the Dance was originally called the Blanket Dance as women Danced with a blanket or shawl covering their heads. The Dance was called the Graceful Shawl Dance in the 1960s and the Dance steps were closer to the ground and smaller than what is performed today. Some also say the Dance represents a story about a butterfly that lost its mate and went into mourning, but had returned after mourning as a beautiful, vibrant butterfly.

The Dance is very athletic and strenuous, involving kicks, twirls and fast movements. The women Dance with beautifully decorated shawls, including long ribbon or fabric fringe. They also wear beautifully beaded moccasins with leggings to match. The detail in their beadwork is amazing and represents their Tribal affiliation, Clan or family.; ankle bells or deer hooves; and a shield made of hide with their Nation designs and Clan added to them.