Talking Feather

Ladies Buckskin Dancing  By  Paul G Pow Wows.com

O’siyo. The Women’s Buckskin Dance is one of the oldest forms of  Native dance. The dresses are finely crafted by hand  and requires  great skill. The dance itself is one of grace and poise.

-Northern Buckskin – 2005 Red Earth.

Excerpt:

“ One of the oldest form of  Native American Women’s Dance is Buckskin. This is a dance of elegance and grace. The movement is smooth and flowing.

Southern Buckskin – 2008 Morongo

The ladies wear fine, hand-crafted buckskin dresses, decorated with intricate bead designs. Northern dresses are fully beaded on the shoulders, or cape. Southern ones, the beadwork is mainly used to accent. They are equally beautiful. The women carry fringed shawls over one arm.

Buckskin Gathering 2012

Much like the Men’s Traditional dance, there are many differences in the outfitting of this women’s style among the various Native American tribes. The jewelry is breath taking. Breastplates made from hair bone pipe, and glass beads can hang to the waist, or all the way to the ankles…Ladies’ Buckskin Dancing is slow, and poised. Circling the drum, they bob to the beat of the drum, letting the long fringe on their sleeves sway in time. They carry a beaded purse, swinging it as well, and a shawl, folded on the arm, swaying likewise.

These highly respected American Indianwomen dance in rhythm with the Drum by swaying and slightly bending at their knees. These movements are very slight.

Beautiful design closeup.

This slight movement, however, creates a beautiful effect in moving their leather fringe in a breezy swaying motion. Northern dresses usually have fully beaded yokes, while Southern dresses have appliqué beadwork.”