Unbroken: Indigenous Peoples Today

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Haleakalā of the Taos Pueblo, Lakota, and Native Hawaiian Nations Wearing a Jingle Dress

Haleakalā, a ten year old daughter of the Taos Pueblo, Lakota, and Native Hawaiian nations, stands in a dancing pose while wearing her favorite regalia, the jingle dress.

The jingle dress, now widespread and used by many female dancers of different Native nations, was originally created by the Mille Lacs Band of the Ojibwe during the early 1900s when a medicine man saw its design in a dream. His daughter was sick (possibly from the flu pandemic from 1918-1919) and the spirits told him that the jingles, also called "ziibaaska'igan", would heal her.

The daughter later danced in the dress and became better, and over time the design was shared with other nations. This was also during the time the U.S. government was enforcing the Code of Indian Offenses, which allowed agents to use physical violence, imprisonment, and withhold rations from Native people in order to prevent dances, acts of healing and other religious practices.

Today the jingle dress is still famously used at pow wows to help bring healing to those in need. The 365 ziibaaska'igan have a calming, soothing effect that sounds like rainfall, and for many the number of 365 symbolizes continuous health or sobriety.

Much like the meaning behind the dress, Haleakalā chose the regalia for herself because she wants her dancing to help her people.

"I dance for my culture and for my family. I learned from my mom and my dad and I've been dancing my whole life. I like dancing for everybody and dancing in front of people. It makes me feel powerful and brave and strong."

Haleakalā Wearing native American Jingle dress photography Jason Sinn Jason Sinn Jason Sinn Photography Lakota Lakota nation Native dress activism activism photographer activism photography activism portrait activist activist photographer activist photography american indian american indian photography american indian portrait art art photography artist artwork autumn blue dress creative creative photography creative portrait creative portrait photography creative portraiture cultural cultural photographer cultural photography cultural portrait cultural portrait photography culture culture photographer culture photography culture portrait education fall colors human rights indigenous indigenous culture indigenous dancing indigenous girl indigenous people indigenous people today indigenous peoples today indigenous person indigenous photography indigenous portrait photography indigenous woman jingle dress love native american native american child native american clothes native american dance native american dancer native american dancing native american dress native american fashion native american girl native american photography native american portrait native american portrait photography native american regalia native american style native american wardrobe native american woman native culture native hawaiian native lives matter native pride native rights ojibwe peace photographer photography art photoshoot portrait portrait photographer portrait photography portraits portraiture pretty dress professional activism professional photographer professional photography protest photographer protest photography protest portrait regalia resist resistance taos pueblo unbroken indigenous peoples today wisdom yellow leaves yellow trees ziibaaska'igan pow wow pow wow dancing pow wow regalia