The oldest form of women's dancing is the Buckskin. This is a very elegant and graceful dance with smooth, flowing movements. This dance is very sophisticated and women as young as six or as old as ninety may be found dancing this style. They dance in rhythm with the drum by bending slightly at their knees and this creates a beautiful effect that moves the leather fringing on the buckskin in a swaying, breezy motion. Women raise their fans in honor of the drum. Fine handcrafted buckskin dresses, intricately beaded are worn. The further north you travel, generally more beading is present. In the north shoulder's or cape can be fully beaded whereas in the south beadwork is mainly used to accent. Shawls or blankets are carried over one arm. As with the Men's Traditional Dance, there are many tribal and regional differences. The dress is adorned with breastplates made from hairbone pipe and glass beads. The hair is mostly worn in braids, and sometimes finished with hair-wraps made from such things as otter and beaver skins.
