Shannon watched her grandma turn the jingles. Not many people know how to do this.
“Grandma, did you dance when you were little?”
“Oh, yes.”
“What did you dance?”
“I was a jingle dancer, my girl. There were no fancy shall dancers when I was little. That’s something new. Go and put on that tape of powwow songs. We’ll listen while we work.”
The music filled the room. This tape was by the Whitefish Bay drum group. It was Shannon’s favorite.
“Boy, it’s a good thing I’m Indian,” Shannon said.
Grandma put her head back and laughed. “Now what makes you say that?” she asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m just glad that I dance. And that I see all my relatives at the Mille Lacs powwow. And my school has Indian teachers and . . . and my grandma makes jingle dresses!”
Grandma laughed again, but softly this time. “My girl,” she said, “always remember to be glad. Remember that wherever you go, all that you are goes with you.”
Comprehension Questions
1. What advise does Shannon's grandmother give her?
A. She gives her tips on how to jingle dance.
B. She tells her to join a drum group.
C. She advises her to always be happy about being Indian, wherever she goes.
A. It's summertime, and she doesn't have to go to school.
B. She has just purchased beads at the Bear-Hawk Indian store.
C. She's excited that her grandma is working on her jingle dress, that she gets to see her cousins at the powwow, and that she gets to dance soon.
Your Thoughts
Vocabulary
4. List any vocabulary words below.