Women's Traditional

"The dance is very old but beautiful. They have to keep their feet in time with the drum by keeping them close to the ground. It is a very steady and requires lots of concentration. Women raise their fans made of Eagle feathers during the “honour beats” to honour the drum and their male relatives."

"The most important part of the dance is the regalia. The Women's traditional dress is made of buckskin or cloth and has long fringes on the bottom and at the ends of the arms. They wear a bone breastplate, beaded moccasins, and a hair piece. A fringed shawl is folded over one arm and they usually have a knife case and an awl on their belt. It has beautiful beadwork in colours that mean something to the tribe or family."

Victoria- Grade 4 student

Women's Fancy

"Women’s fancy is a dance that represents a butterfly. The shawl is like the wings. As you dance, you spin and your shawl flutters and waves just like a butterfly's wings.
No one else has the same design. Your feet keep up with the beat of the drum. Some say it was called a blanket dance by nobody calls it that anymore. Their outfits are made out of ribbon and fabric."

Sierra - Grade 4 student

Women's Jingle

"The jingle dress has special power. When somebody dances in the jingle dress she has special responsibilities. There is a legend to go with the jingle dress. There were two sisters, one was ill so the other sister made a dress and every time she danced in that dress, she put on a jingle on it for every day of the year. That’s why there’s the jingle dress till this very day."

Brettnee - Grade 4 student