Women's Traditional or Buckskin:

Ladies traditional is an elegant dance. It is slow and poised. They wear a beaded top with intricate designs. Long leather fringe accent the edge of the dress. They also carry a shawl draped over their arm and hold a eagle tail fan.

Most of the women who dance in the traditional dress stand at the edge of the arena and dance stationary. There are few women, who are from the north west tribes, that walk around the circle as they dance.  During contest powwows, they usually dance two songs. The first one is a straight song. The second one is a round dance.

Women's Fancy Shawl:

This is the newest form of women's categories. It is colorful, athletic, elegant and fun to watch. The women wear dresses, a cape, leggings, moccasins, and a shawl with long fringe. Some of the shawls are decorated with ribbon, applique, and paintings. Some refer to fancy shawl dancers like beautiful butterflies.

They dance to two songs a straight song and a crow hop. Sometimes in addition or instead of the crow hop they will dance to a double beat.

 Women's Jingle:

This dance is sacred amongst the Ojibwe people. It was originally used as a medicine dress. There are different versions of this story.

Here is one version of the jingle dress:

An elder's granddaughter became ill. In a dream he was given a dress and shown how to make it. There were four women that were to dance with his granddaughter. The dress would help heal her granddaughter. She was to dance four songs. They brought her in to the hall. The first song the women had to carry her around the circle. The second song she started to walk. The third song she walked on her own. The fourth song she started to dance.

This style has been adapted into a powwow style of dance. The dresses are made of fabric with cones made of tobacco can covers. "Old Style" jingle dress dancers wear a dress and a cape on top and carry a purse. Contemporary jingle dress dancers wear a the dress, feather or plumes, and carry an eagle feather fan. Jingle dress dancers dance a straight song and a side step.