White Deerskin Dance

• The Yurok, an American Indian tribe based primarily in California, practice a white deerskin dance. The tribe's website points out that the dance is called, "u pyue-wes" in their native tongue. Dancers participating in this dance carry rods with a stuffed deer attached, wear elaborate deerskin clothing and create necklaces made of dentalia. Dentalia is a commonly used American Indian term that refers to parts of teeth and tusks. The white deer dance is designed to cause continued prosperity in the natural world.