NIKITA RAIN

Nikita_with Creeasion, 2oolman, The Halluci Nation

Nikita was born and raised in Nelson, BC. She is Secwépemc and a member of the Xat’sull First Nation. She also has Danish, Italian, Irish, French, and Scottish ancestry.

Nikita has been dancing Pow Wow since she was 8 years old. She first started as a Fancy Shawl dancer and has been a Jingle Dress dancer for the past six years. She is also a hip-hop dancer. Nikita is part of a dance group in Nelson called Wild Rose Dance.

The Jingle Dress Dance is a sacred healing dance that originated with the Ojibway people during the influenza pandemic over a century ago. It began with a vision in which a grandfather dreamt of a jingle dress that would heal his sick granddaughter. The cones are made from tobacco lids and create the beautiful jingle sound.

Each step of the Jingle Dress Dance is a healing prayer. The dancer keeps one foot connected to Mother Earth while moving to the heartbeat of the drum.

Nikita will be sharing a dance, teaching some of the steps, and then inviting everyone to join in for a dance together to the song “Sisters” by The Halluci Nation—that Nikita and Wild Rose Dance actually performed to and with on stage at the Nelson International Mural Festival!