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HANGING A FEATHER ON IT DON'T MAKE IT "INDIAN" !
December 30, 2007
Spirit Hawk ^i^
 
     Our Peoples have an infinite number of decorative uses for feathers.

    Featherwork often incorporates other materials such as leather, thread, and even animal hair.

    Decorated feathers are often tied to a lock of hair, placed upright on top of a cap, fastened to a headband or worn from the ears.

    Both turkey and eagle feathers are often used.

    Single feathers are embellished and then combined to make beautiful head, neck and clothing ornaments as well as fans and dance bustles.

    Feathers and bird skins are even used to make clothing. Very prominent and easily seen, feathers communicate particular messages to the onlooker.

    Certain kinds or ways of cutting feathers, or particular numbers of feathers may indicate a person's tribe, clan, status or war honors.

    Even the way they are worn relays a message.

    Many feathers have important ceremonial and religious importance.

    Decorated feathers from particular birds are sometimes attached to sacred tobacco pipes or used in altar displays during ceremonies.

    Decorated feathers may be used as ‘smudge’ feathers, used to direct the purifying smoke of burning cedar, sage, tobacco and/or sweetgrass.

    Animal hair from the deer, moose and other creatures are also used in our featherwork.

    Animal hairs are intricately tied, braided, and woven into decorations for the head and neck.

    Headbands of birchbark or leather also incorporated feathers and animal hair.

    Tufts of dyed deer or other hair were also wrapped into feathers or inserted into metal tinkling cones for neck or clothing decorations.

    Of all birds of prey, we give eagles the greatest honor.

    There are many species of eagles recognized by us, including some types of vultures, considered to be the fourth eagle by some of our Nations.

    Other birds of prey, including the many types of hawks, also carry important meanings. For example, some of our peoples associate owl feathers with death or prophesy, but to others, if an owl feather is combined with a hawk feather, it represents life.

    Early historic records of Northeastern North America mention a little black bird resembling a hawk that was instilled with great courage despite its small size.

    The little bird had the same Narragansett name as the word for their political leader, ‘Sachim’, because of the bird's ‘princelike’ courage over greater birds .

    This hawk was valued at an amount sufficient to ransom a ‘Sagamour’, a Native American leader (Wood 1865).

    Although birds of prey are revered by us, game and song birds are also appreciated for their own particular qualities.

    Game birds, like the turkey, goose and duck, are very prevalent in our featherwork.

    In the Northeast, in addition to arrow fletching, upright turkey-tail headdress, single wing- and tail feather decorations, ceremonial fans and other items, turkey feathers are also woven together into capes.

    In the 1600’s, our People's of the Northeast sometimes wore a covering made of turkey feathers during the winter months. These mantles, capes, or coats were knitted together with small strings.

    Plaited together, the turkey feathers overlapped like that the back of the bird. They were also wove by the women for their children.

    Song bird and other exotic bird feathers are prized by our People's for certain characteristics.

    The feathers of blue jays, cardinals, and some other brightly colored birds are used for their medicine by our spiritual leaders.

    Medicinal teas are made by steeping or boiling particular feathers in water.

    Nations in the Northeast also accepted peacock feathers and ostrich plumes in trade, and wore them in traditional Native styles.

    Our People left no part to waste when an animal was killed.

    What could not be consumed of an animal, bird or other beast was utilized .

    The feathers of birds and hair of animals was no exception in the vast array of materials used in our culture.

    The feathers of birds and entire small birds were highly esteemed for adornment and symbols of status.

    So you see, feathers are very important to us.

    But there is something you must understand.

    Hanging a feather on an item does NOT make it "Indian"!

    It does not make it a part of our culture without the ceremony, traditions and spiritual significance behind it.

    Also, they mean different things to different Nations, tribes or even clans.

    So please folks, died goose and chicken feathers need not apply!

     So says, Spirit Hawk ^i^
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