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Every tribe has their own origin legends of the different dance styles. The most well known legend of the Jingle Dress comes from the Great Lakes Region. A Medicine Man was unable to cure his people of diseases that come west with the White man. In answer to his fasting and prayers, he was given a vision in which he saw his daughter and three of her friends dancing in dress adorned with "jingles". They danced in a "side-Step" fashion around the sick person. In the dream, he was taught the healing songs. Upon awakening he instructed his wife and daughter how to make the dresses. He was able to heal his people by conducting the jingle dress ceremony. Originally, the cones were carved out of wood. The jingles are now made of chewing tobacco lids. The jingle dress dance performed at a powwow is now considered one of the intertribal dance styles. However, the actual ceremonial dances are not performed in public.
The jingle dress dance outfit is comprised of the jingle dress, matching beadwork (cuffs, barrettes, leggings, moccasins, purses, belts), and a fan. The "old style" jingle dress dancers do not carry a fan or wear eagle plumes or feathers in their hair.
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I Was Indian Before Being Indian Was Cool!! There's Plenty Of Room For All God's Creatures. Right Next To The Mashed Potatoes!!
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