Gourd Dances are held regularly by several groups especially in Oklahoma. Today the dance is being done at Pow Wows before, after, and between intertribal dancing. Gourd dancers shake a gourd rattle to the beat of the drum. The dance was resurrected by the Kiowa tribe. Several tribes historically held Gourd Dances including the Ponca, Kiowa, Comanche and Cheyenne.
Today there are several Gourd Dance societies or groups.
The Gourd is either a real gourd, or a stainless steel salt shaker or an evaporated milk can. They are decorated with leather, beads, string, feathers, and horsehair. The dancer wears a ribbon shirt, buckskin leggins or pants, a sash round the waist with fringed ends. The dancers also wear a gourd blanket over their shoulders. The blanket is made of red and blue wool.