Pattern, Grass Dance Outfit

Missouri River Brand Pattern

The Grass Dance Outfit evolved from the early Ponca & Omaha “Hethushka”, or War Dance, with its name being derived from bunches of grass that were used to represent scalps, either carded or tucked into the belts of the dancers. From the Omaha, the dance spread to South & North Dakota, Montana, and Canada. While the regalia has undergone many changes since its beginnings in the late 19th Century, the information presented here is for the modern version of the outfit that is in vogue today and worn throughout the Northern Plains by the Sioux, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Plains Ojibwa, Northern Cheyenne, Blackfoot, Crow, Assinniboine, & Plains Cree tribes. It is also seen as far south as Oklahoma and as far west as California.

This pattern includes several variations and suggestions that will help you put together a unique dance outfit, along with complete instructions for assembly and decoration for the major articles of clothing. Also included is information on the other articles required to complete the outfit: the headgear, belt, harness, cuffs, moccasins, bells, neckwear, and hand ornaments.