Although I travelled to many pow wows in my early years, I didn’t actually start dancing until my late teens.
I have the honour to be born into the culture of the Nez Perce nation.
I have a Traditional dance outfit which is made of velour material decorated with shells and beads.
My most favourite dance is the Round Dance, as it gives me much pride to be dancing in a circle that many of the women have been doing for years and has been passed on for generations. Seeing the beautiful outfits that were made with love and care become family treasures- it makes my heart swell with pride to see how talented our people are.
While dancing, you stand tall with a straight posture, and your feet automatically move in and up and down to the rhythms of the drum with your shawl over your arm which also sways to the beautiful soft beat.
This sound is the pride of all First Nations people of the world!