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I’ve been fascinated with the idea of photographing Native American ritual for quite a few years now. When I realized the Wind River Dancers, of the Wind River Indian Reservation near Riverton, Wyo., were going to be performing at the American Indian Heritage Day Celebration at the Cheyenne Depot Museum this past Saturday, I jumped at the opportunity.

What I found was a diverse display of traditional dances from tribes such as the Ojibwe and Arapahoe. The dances themselves had a variety of purposes from healing to paying homage to animals to retelling stories of battle and the hunt. Some were even highly functional, such as the mens’ grass dance — wherein Native American tribes would use dance to flatten grass on the prairies where they would make their camps.

I wasn’t surprised to find that, by arriving early, I found pictures that I treasure as much as the shots of the main event. Meaning, with many performances and athletic events, I find that the preparation photographs tell just as much, if not more, than the shots of the main event. Here, I’ve provided a few photos of traditional Ojibwe performer, Brad Whelan, as he prepares his headdress, feather bustle (a spread of golden eagle feathers which go on his back) and other items for his performance for the public. You’ll also notice photos which display the clothing and dance which, amongst other things, makes these cultures so unique.