Williams Lake First Nation seeks owner of jingle dress discovered in abandoned storage locker

Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) is on a mission to return a jingle dress to its rightful owner after it turned up in a local thrift store earlier this year.

The dress, along with a blanket, was brought to WLFN Kukwpi7 (Chief) Willie Sellars by the thrift store’s owner, who had purchased the contents of an abandoned storage locker and found the items inside a suitcase. Recognizing their cultural significance, the shopkeeper gifted them to the nation.

Before the store was lost in a March fire, the regalia was handed over to WLFN councillor and regalia maker Dancing Water Sandy. She carefully cleaned, smudged, and blessed the items in hopes they would be reunited with their owners. The jingle dress is dark green with silver, white, and yellow detailing, a white fringe, and bells primarily attached to the skirt. The blanket, adorned with a black-and-white raven design and mother of pearl buttons, was later identified as belonging to Nadine Brown of Bella Bella.

Brown, who received the blanket as a one-of-a-kind gift about 15 years ago, had thought it lost forever after lending it to a friend seven years ago. She learned of its recovery through social media after WLFN posted photos of the items.

However, the owner of the jingle dress remains unknown. Brandon Hoffman, WLFN’s marketing and communications manager, says there are “potential leads, but no solid hits yet.” The nation continues to appeal to the public for information, hoping the dress’s journey will lead it home.