Jingle Dress
In the Ojibwe and Great Lakes region jingle dress dance tradition, sound is both music and medicine. Its soothing rhythm draws healing power from the dancer’s movements and thoughts. The motion of the cone shaped jingles enables spirits to enter them and pulls away illness during the dance, fusing body and dress into a conduit of energy that restores spiritual, emotional, and physical balance. These powers make the dress a symbol of identity, solidarity, and resilience.
For acclaimed jingle dress maker, Shannon Gustafson (Anishnawbe and Whitesand First Nation member), creating this jingle dress was an act of healing. Together with her family, they created jingle dress regalia and other garments and accessories to aid in their grieving of Gustafson’s son, Piitwewetam (Rolling Thunder), also known as Jesse Gustafson, who traveled to the spirit world after a car accident in 2015.
For acclaimed jingle dress maker, Shannon Gustafson (Anishnawbe and Whitesand First Nation member), creating this jingle dress was an act of healing. Together with her family, they created jingle dress regalia and other garments and accessories to aid in their grieving of Gustafson’s son, Piitwewetam (Rolling Thunder), also known as Jesse Gustafson, who traveled to the spirit world after a car accident in 2015.
Artwork Details
- Title: Jingle Dress
- Artist: Shannon Gustafson
- Date: 2020 and 2026
- Culture: Anishnawbe
- Medium: Dress: Velveteen, cotton, jingles
Accessories: Melton wool, seed beads, smoked deer hide, cotton, silver-colored metal snaps - Dimensions: Dress:
L: 51 in.
Waist: 44 in.
Hip: 50 in.
Sleeve: 15 in.
Weight: under 40 lbs
Accessories:
(a-b) Size 8
(c) approx. 6 x 12 in
(d) approx. 34 x 5 in - Classification: Costumes
- Credit Line: Purchase, Barbara Tober Gift, 2026
- Object Number: 2026.246a–e
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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