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Aerius Benton-Banai

About Aerius Benton-Banai

  • Founder of House of Jingle Dress

  • Traditional Ojibwe Name: Jingogiizhigookwe (Changing Sky Woman)

  • Clan: Bullhead Fish Clan (Awaazisii)

  • Nation: Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe, Lakota, Dakota, Lenape, and Oneida

  • Born: October 21, 1999

  • Years Designing & Creating: 2011-Present

 

Aerius Benton-Banai is a self-taught artist, visionary designer, and dedicated mother whose life has been defined by traditional Indigenous lifeways. She comes from the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe reservation, as well as the Lakota, Dakota, Lenape, and Oneida nations. Raised in the heart of her culture, Aerius has been dancing at powwows since she could walk, carrying the rhythms and traditions of her ancestors from her very first steps.

 

Her deep understanding of and reverence for the jingle dress is rooted in an unbroken lineage of traditional knowledge. All of her insight, and everything she was taught, comes directly from her elders of the Three Fires Midewin Lodge, where her late grandfather, Eddie Benton-Banai, served as Grand Chief. Growing up in the Lodge under his guidance, Aerius learned and witnessed jingle dress healing ceremonies firsthand. Hearing the rain-like sounds of the ziibaaska’iganan (metal cones) echo within the lodge walls taught her that these dresses are active instruments of prayer—carrying intentions straight to the Creator to clear away sadness and restore physical and emotional wellness.

 

At the age of 17, Aerius began her own personal path as a Jingle Dress dancer. What started as a healing journey soon bloomed into a calling. Her passion for dressmaking grew into House of Jingle Dress, a business dedicated to helping other women step into the circle and find their own healing through dance.

 

Pioneering the Future of Tradition

As a pioneer in the traditional jingle dress sector, Aerius is recognized as one of the first artists to introduce unique contemporary designs as an accepted medium. By reconsidering predominant narratives, she deliberately repositions historically overlooked concepts of the Ojibwe Anishinaabe, ensuring this living tradition remains vibrant, proud, and relevant for new generations.

 

Artistry as Medicine and Advocacy

For Aerius, the jingle dress is more than regalia; it is a sacred vessel for healing. Her work extends beyond the studio into deep community advocacy and spiritual service. Having facilitated Jingle Dress Healing Ceremonies, she honors the original purpose of the dress as a gift for health and well-being.

Her artistry serves as a voice for the silenced, as she creates custom dresses that honor:

  • Survivors of Reproductive Trauma: Providing a path toward reclamation, comfort, and bodily autonomy.

  • Missing & Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP): Crafting memorial dresses that ensure the spirits of our missing relatives are never forgotten.

 

Cultural Protocol and Legacy

Because of her traditional upbringing, Aerius holds a deep respect for the strict boundaries of her medicine. She teaches that true jingle dress healing ceremonies are serious, deeply sacred events that are strictly private and not meant for the public eye. The sacred ceremonial dresses used in those spaces are made specifically for a distinct healing ceremony and are never meant to be seen in public. In contrast, the beautiful jingle dresses seen at modern, public powwows are celebratory regalia—crafted for public social gatherings, competitions, and community joy.

 

Through community workshops, Aerius teaches the technical and spiritual aspects of jingle dress creation. She empowers others to find their own creative voice while staying firmly grounded in these cultural protocols.

As a mother, Aerius is fiercely committed to passing these sacred values to her daughter, ensuring she grows up with an unshakeable sense of identity and pride. Through House of Jingle Dress, Aerius invites you to witness the enduring, healing power of Anishinaabe lifeways.

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