Threads of Us / Valerie Leith (Miskozenibaanhkwe / Hupagluzawiya)
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Valerie Leith (Miskozenibaanhkwe / Hupagluzawiya)
Valerie is also Miskozenibaanhkwe (Red Ribbon Woman) and Hupagluzawiya (Presents the Pipe Woman). Her jingle dress is Ojibwe style, made by Lavender Doris, her we'eh, who also gave her the name Miskozenibaanhkwe. The dress has a healing story. In Ojibwe tradition it once healed a sick girl, and the dress and its dance have carried healing ever since.
The beadwork is by Snowy White, Lavender's daughter. It honors the turtle from the Ojibwe creation story and uses traditional Ojibwe floral designs.
Valerie wears the dress to powwow, where she dances in prayer and gives thanks to Creator. She travels across the states to dance, going to round dances and ceremonies to keep these traditions alive.
VALERIE LEITH (MISKOZENIBAANHKWE / HUPAGLUZAWIYA) · OJIBWE JINGLE DRESS, OJIBWE/