Wearing his elaborate costume, the Indian male is in his pride. His performance harkens back to early days when the tribe danced this dance as a prayer, beseeching their Deities for special favors, (like food, rain, heath, verity, and strength.) Many hours are consumed preparing the feathers geometrically so they will fall properly into the fan shape on the shoulders, head or bustle. The feathers are stripped, fluffed, washed, then dyed brilliant colors before they are tied securely into place.

In this portrait of a fancy dancer in his headdress, two eagle feathers are mounted to a head-piece of porcupine quills, which is tied with a leather cord down under the chin. The headband is beaded with traditional designs of the tribe. Over the shoulder hangs a vest piece of fancy beadwork with dangling foxtails.

As the tom-toms and the singers start the chants, one wonders how the dancers keep up with the rhythm, without the feathers, beads and quills pulling apart and falling to the ground. The Pow-Wow proceeds, and as the dancers continue the observer realized that the costume, though apparently delicate, is extremely well constructed. The fancy dancer spins, twirls, dips and stomps to the beat of the drums and chants. He glides as if he were about to fly, with feathers, bells, quills and beads following and hanging intact, liked the wings and tail of an eagle.

Today these dances are mostly contests among the young men of the different tribes. Contests are conducted for the different age groups, with awards given to the judged winner in each group. Spectators of all nationalities come to view the colorful Pow-wows. Though much of the real meaning has been lost, the color, drama, pride, competition, endurance and skill are much the same today as in 1776.