The Station

History of the Jingle Dress Dance
The Jingle Dress Dance began with the Mille Lacs Band of the Ojibwe Tribe in the early 1900s and became prevalent in the 1920s in Wisconsin and Minnesota (Great Lakes region) in the US and in Ontario, Canada.
The story is that the dress was first seen in a dream. A medicine man’s granddaughter grew sick, and as the man slept his Indian spirit guides came to him and told him to make a Jingle Dress for the little girl. They said if the child danced in it, the dress would heal her. The Jingle Dress was made, and the tribe came together to watch the child dance. At first, the child was too sick to dance alone so her tribe carried her, but after some time, the little girl was able to dance alone, cured of her sickness.
The dance has since been not only a ritual of healing but also one of pride.
What Do Jingle Dresses Look Like?
Jingle Dresses, also known as Prayer Dresses, are believed to bring healing to those who are sick. As mentioned above, the dance gets its name from the rows of ziibaaska’iganan (metal cones) sewed to the dress. These cones are traditionally made from rolled s***f can lids and hung from the dress with ribbon close to one another, so they make a melodic sound as the girls and women dance. Traditionally, the dress is adorned with 365 visible jingles, or cones. Nowadays, these cones are often machine-made.
The dresses come in every color imaginable, from yellow to bright blue, to deep red, and accented with sparkles and even neon-colored fabrics. They are often made with shiny and sparkly materials and decorated with fringes, embroidery, beading, and more.
They usually have three-quarter length to full-length sleeves and come down to mid-calf or the ankle. They are secured at the waist with a thick belt, often made of brown leather. On their feet, the dancer wears decorative moccasins embellished with the same kind of detail found on their dresses.
What are the steps for the Jingle Dance?
As the ziibaaska’iganan hit one another it sounds like rain falling, so it’s important for the dancer to be light on their feet, to move in time with the drum and stop when the beat stops. They keep their foot movements low to the ground while dancing, kicking their heels and bouncing on their toes to the music. Typically, this dance is done in a zigzag pattern, said to represent one’s journey through life—or so the story goes. Often, they keep their hands on their hips, and if they are dancing with a feathered fan (full of neutral colors, like eagle feathers) as the more modern Jingle Dress Dancers do, they will raise it into the air as they dance to receive healing.
The traditional Indian dance involves low, soft-footed steps, as could be performed by those who were sick, while the modern competitive dancers push the boundaries some as they try to out-dance their competitors. The manner in which the dance has evolved has built firmly on its origin story.
What are the songs and music for Jingle Dance?
The music for this style of dancing has a foundation of a solid drumbeat, and of course, the metal cones make a loud jingling (hence the name) as the women move, which contributes to the music you’ll hear at a Jingle Dress Dance. Jingle Dancers will usually dance to Northern drum groups. Special songs for Jingle Dance include a Side Step or Crow Hop.

Delving into the creative process of one of our artist collective members, Matthew Thomas, who created this commissioned piece (Rockefeller at Midnight) just in time for the holidays.

The Station Gallery and Artist Collective is looking for new collective members and volunteers. Join us at our monthly meeting Thursday, January 4th at 5:30 p.m. at 400 Burnet Ave, 3rd Fl to get involved, or check out our website linked in our bio to learn more.

The Station Artist Collective meets every Thursday at 5:45

🚨‼️THIS SUNDAY‼️🚨

Come join us
As our magical fairies and artists join for a tea party at the old central railway station❤️☀️
Come check out our amazing group, or historical building, meanwhile supporting local CNY artists!
We are a nonprofit gallery hoping to spread magic back into our community at no cost to you, so support us with a smile, like and your presence at this upcoming event!

This project is made possible with funds from the ReStart NY Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.

Pollen galore... See more: themindcircle.com/incredible-insects/

Photo by Morgana Pozzi

I don't know why this hasn't received more publicity, but this fifty-foot sculpture was unveiled recently in South Dakota.
It's called 'Dignity' and was done by artist Dale Lamphere to honor the women of the Sioux Nation.
❤️ Thank you for reading and liking the article. If you're Native American, this is the store for you (t-shirts, blankets, jewelry, tumbler,bags..).
🔥 Visit the Native American store here: https://www.nativeculturestores.com/stores/best-selling

Photo of the day!😍

Magnificent geometry. See more: themindcircle.com/geometrical-symmetry-in-nature//

This project is made possible with funds from the ReStart NY Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.

Then & Now
Lakota Sioux woman in 1899 & Lakota Sioux woman today.

❤️ Thank you for reading and liking the article. If you're Native American, this is the store for you (t-shirts, blankets, jewelry, tumbler,bags..).
🔥 Visit the Native American store here: https://www.nativebloods.com/stores/bestselling

The view from below Edinburgh Castle never gets old to me💜

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks”- John Muir

📍Edinburgh
📸Amazing shot by: