Sharing our stories of faith in Christ through Cultural Expressions

Northern Connections use our dance to share our stories faith and struggles to other people groups of different cultures because music and dance transcend languages and speaks to the hearts of a people.  

Why We Dance

I have learned so much and made the connection on what I really needed to understand through the Videographer of our Peoples history at “Wounded Knee” .  One of those things is seeing clearly on how our people were "ordered", and "forced" to live, and to be acknowledged or be note worthy while talking to...was if you had a Christian name, and attended one of their churches.  That piece of history is a real eye opener. 

I also learnt that our dances were born during a dark and evil time. While our people were being deceived, murdered, and massacred over something they knew themselves could never be owned by no one people or race.....land.  But instead of giving up hope, and risk being erased from the face of the earth, they fought back through "dance" and "song". 

What a privilege it is for us to publicly dance today, without fear of being killed or persecuted. 

If that "young lady" could just sit down and watch that movie “Wounded Knee”, and see what kinds of sacrifices, struggles, and even death our people had to endure just to live, dance, and celebrate life, and let that sink into your soul.  She, me and many others would know, and take some measure of pride, that we are honouring, celebrating, and being thankful for the gifts our ancestors have shown us; through their testimonies; that without a shadow of a doubt......no army, and artillery, can take away the God given right to sing and to dance to Creator, even while great suffering and immeasurable grief, turmoil in ones life.  

That also means it is a privilege, and an honour, that we can freely dance, and sing today because that right was earned through our ancestors’ sufferings.  And if we use it properly, we will learn to love our enemies, and all those around us through song, dance and the drum which we use to celebrate life. 

What a beautiful, life long, powerful teaching that is, and what a powerful gift and teaching we have received from our ancestors. 

This gift of song and dance is to be embraced, enjoyed, and honoured.  It was not born out of a church building, rather this teaching took was found in a living place, God’s temple...his Creation. 

Our people didn't dance, and sing because they were beautiful, gorgeous, good looking, handsome, or were goddesses;   they all came in many shapes, sizes, and forms, young, old, fat, short, tall, sick, and hurting. Our people chose to dance, because that was all they had left.  Because the one thing the colonizers wanted, wasn't theirs to give away.  Land ownership wasn't even in our peoples’ language.  God, Creator is the real owner and it is He that sets the boundaries of people.  They couldn't give land, that didn't belong to them.

The more they hurt, and the more they suffer, I now know the urgency why we all need to sing and dance even more, and in greater numbers.  Now, that is happening.  However, I am saddened that our people today are doing this through a competitive nature.  Maybe that is why our children are now learning that to be a dancer; you have to be beautiful, good looking, and in good physical shape.  So now, we hide our blotches through the beautiful Regalia, and painting our faces, we try and show everyone just how beautiful we think we are. And sadly today, the first recruits of dancers is formed from outer beauty rather then inner...don't you think.  

However, this was never the way it was intended to be.

White Wolf Woman

Mrs. Valerie Whyte

Mathias Colomb Cree Nation - Pukatawagan, Manitoba

The Grass Dance - Follow the rhythmic flow of the dancer gracefully moving across the stage as the ribbons and yarn adorning the regalia seemingly flow like the long prairie grasses. Originating from the northern plains, the grass dance has a long colourful history. Before any dances or ceremonies could take place, they would send out a select group of men known as the grass dancers. These men would have the responsibility of finding and preparing the gathering grounds. Once the area was selected they would flatten down the grass, fill in the holes and also bless the arena. It was said that after the dances were complete, the grass would rise back up as if no one had ever been there. The dancers would weave the sweet grasses and prairie grasses into their outfits. Throughout the years, the dancers began to weave the brighter ribbons and yarn into their regalia to replace the sweet grass.

Men's Traditional Dance -The air erupts with the sound of the drum as the dancer goes low to the earth as if looking for the tracks of a not so distant enemy. As the song increases in tempo, the story begins to take place. This dance is said to be one of the oldest styles of dance to have originated from the northern plains. The dance was said to be a story dance, which was used after a battle or hunt to depict and share the experience of the day’s events to all of the people in the encampment. The regalia are more traditional in nature including such items as the bone breastplate, coupe stick, shield and a single bustle.

Men's Fancy Feather Dance - Fasten your seatbelts and prepare yourself for the men’s fancy dance. Sit back and enjoy a kaleidoscope of color and movement as the dancer skilfully captures the attention of the audience. One of the fastest and most colourful styles of dance, the fancy dance is a true statement of speed, endurance, and personal expression. Originally referred to as the crazy dance, the dance incorporates brighter outfits and faster movements.

Men's and Women's Hoop Dance - The hoop dance is consistently the most requested dance throughout North America. The hoops symbolize a sacred part of the Native American life. It represents the circle of life with no beginning and no ending. Watch as the dancer begins with one hoop and keeps adding and weaving the hoops into formations that represent our journey through life. Each added hoop represents another thread in the web of life.

Women's Traditional Dance - Some traditions hold that this symbolizes the way the women turned and looked for their warriors to come home from the hunt or war. At certain points in the song, women may hear words that have meaning to them which may signal their spirit to rejoice or cry out and acknowledge the words by raising their fans. Others raise their fans during the honour beats of a song as a gesture of praise to Creator of heaven and earth. Women traditional dancers must follow the beat of the drum and stop when the music does. 

Eagle Dance (MEN) - The eagle is respected and honoured by many of the nations indigenous to North America. Many of the nations symbolically use the Eagle as the deliverer of all their prayers to the Creator. Watch as the dancer transforms into this majestic animal as the dance represents the flight of the Eagle. Soaring higher and higher in the thermals delivering the many prayers of the nations.

Jingle Dress Dance - Originating with the Anishnabe people of the Lake of the Woods area in Ontario and part of the American state Minnesota. Based on tradition and teachings, the jingle dress is believed to come from a man from the Lake woods area whose daughter was ill. In this man's vision, the jingle dress was made of shells.  The dress was to be given for the purpose of symbolically adorning a the dancer who would dance prayer of healing.

The jingle dress is a symbolic medicine dress. If a woman chooses to take on this dress, she must be ready for the responsibility that it entails. The jingle dress should be honoured with fasting and feasting.

Today, the jingle dress is made up of cones. These cones are usually made from Copenhagen lids and are derived from chewing tobacco, from which tobacco is a plant used symbolically as a healing medicine. However there are still some people who use shells.

Women's Fancy Shawl Dance - Envision the grace and beauty of a butterfly gracefully floating through the sky and you will know how this dance got its name. Nicknamed the butterfly dance, this style represents the beauty and grace of new life. The dance is very upbeat, yet the dancer never seems to touch the ground.

Fancy Shawl dance originated from the Northern nations. Stories about how the dance originated vary. Northern Connections use this dance to tell the story of life, from a crawling worm dying to its self emerging into a beautiful butterfly. And it is through the vibrant upbeat of this dance that the dancer expresses the joy of new life that the Creator freely gives through his Son (Christ)

Fancy shawl dancers are brightly coloured and characterized by a shawl with long fringes. A fringed cape is worn over the shawl to accentuate movement. She wears beaded leggings and moccasins.

The fancy shawl dance is very detailed and athletic. Her footwork is intricate and she spins to make her fringe fly. The grace of dance is so expressed that her feet will barely touch the ground, almost appearing like that of a butterfly fluttering near the ground.

Be sure to check both videos!