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The Story of the Jingle Dress
by
Joelle Sue Peters
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Member

A young woman had a very close family member become extremely ill. After a visit, she returned
home and prayed to the Great Spirit to show her a way to help her family overcome the illness. Night and day, hour after hour, she dreamed a vision of a Healing Dress. This dress would heal not only her family's illnesses, but all indigenous people's illnesses. She sewed the Healing Dress according to her vision. The dress was adorned with cones made from lids of tobacco cans, which were cleaned and then bent into shape.

One cone would be placed on the dress everyday for 365 days. A prayer would be recited at the same time. The costume was worn by a family or tribal member, complete with leggings, a fan and a pouch. The fan was used to help pass smoke from natural medicines throughout the gathering of well-wishers.

The Healing Dress is wonderful and will always be very important to native communities
everywhere.

Top photo: The "Jingle Dress," middle left, is now part of the collection of regalia and costumes used by Delta College students/members of the Historical Players. The "Jingle Dress" was purchased from funds provided by Prof. Mary Beth Looby's 2001 Carlyon Endowed Chair Award. Left-Right: M. Looby, Joelle Peters, Joelle's cousin, and former Delta College student Richard Rodriguez.)

Below, members of the Historical Players make a presentation at Delta's English Festival. Joelle Peters, in Jingle Dress, waits to perform her healing dance.

 
 
The written and visual works in Mid-Michigan Remembers-Stories about Us were chosen on the basis of their quality, diversity, community interest and appeal. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the College. This space is provided as a service by Delta College.