First Nation ~ Headdress History and Sacred Meaning
If you are like me then you love the the style of an eagle feathered warbonnet or headdress, but maybe you do not know the sacred meaning behind the warbonnet. Of course, because I am Eagle Spirit I cannot keep my eyes off anything with eagles, so if I see a headdress or staff that has eagle feathers they have my full attention.
Most of us have seen movies where a famous celebrity or model was wearing a headdress, much to the dismay of many Native Americans. More than likely, these celebrities wore fake eagle feathers since it is illegal to own an eagle feather in North America. The only people allowed to own an authentic eagle feather is a member of the First Nation. This writing will hopefully clarify a few facts, and instill the respect every First Nation person has for a headdress. As with all tribal nations, mostly every detail has meaning. So let us learn more about where the warbonnet came from.
History
The Sioux tribe was the first ones in the United States to have worn the full fledged warbonnet, but most tribes did not use feathers in their headdresses.
In fact, warbonnets were only worn by the tribes found in the Great Plains. Those tribes were the Sioux, Crow, Blackfeet, Cheyenne and Cree. In many historical photographs the eagle feathers are descending in a long tail all the way to the ground. Another style is when Crow elders attend formal events and the warbonnet is shaped in a halo with eagle feathers fanned out around the face. The Blackfeet are known to wear a headdress with eagle feathers that stand straight up. All warbonnets are made from golden eagle tail feathers and each feather is earned by an act of bravery.
At times, an eagle feather may be painted red to commemorate a specific deed. The Plains Indians warbonnets decorate their headdresses with ermine and beadwork.
Principles
Unfortunately, as with everything there are rules to warbonnets. According to the First Nation culture, the headdress is used only for ceremony and worn only by chiefs and warriors. Only men are allowed to wear a Native American warbonnet. Women who are chiefs do not wear a warbonnet out of respect for the men of the tribe. Men rarely wore warbonnets while fighting, and often wore roach headdresses into battle. Specifically, the headdresses with long tails would not be easy to fight in on the battlefield.
During the 1800's, America started to see a rise of warbonnets being worn as it became a fashion statement, or a symbol of authority amongst the First Nation. The Plains tribes continued to wear feather warbonnets as a sacred display of honor and courage, with each feather telling a story. To this day, eagle feathers are awarded to those who serve the military or those who performed brave deeds.
Controversy
Lately we have seen an outcry by Native Americans against celebrities and people during holidays or festivals wearing headdresses. The reasons are these:
It is a sign of disrespect since Native American men only wear a headdress.
The headdress is a symbol of earning status within the tribe, so anyone outside the tribe wearing this symbol is an insult.
If you know and do not care about being disrespectful, then do not be surprised if you have a very angry Native American confronting you. (Personally, I would not want an angry chief in my face.)
Ignorance is not a valid reason to wear a warbonnet, it is a reasonable request to not wear sacred symbols when you are not a part of the culture.
We find people do not ask, so if you are not sure of what is unacceptable simply ask someone who is part of the culture. We are happy to explain. I am half Native American, so feel free to ask!
If you are thinking of wearing a headdress anytime in the future I urge you to think twice. Find the respect for a nation that finds a headdress to be a symbol of respect and honor, and only worn by people within the tribe. Peace.
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Yay! Thank you my favorite lil' choo choo! Love this post so much and all of you.
I appreciate your feature, thank you to the judges and those who do all the reviewing. Hard work indeed! xx
Thank you for the history lesson. I learned something today!
You are very welcome, glad you learned something!
What a gorgeous attire. I have always been fascinated with the detail in things like headdresses and trajes.
I notice there was a huge rash of people drawing from this culture in the art festival communities. It's definitely been a topic for controversial conversations and I can see why!
Yes they’re definitely special and the controversy is part of why I left FB. Nonstop anger from the NAs, I understand the feeling of insult but education is important. Explain without hating I say. 🦅
@eaglespirit. It's good that you speak up for the tribes. At least you did your part to educate people on this sensitive issue
Thank you so much for seeing and understanding me. It’s not easy trying to understand both sides. I don’t hate so it isn’t easy for me to see so much anger and no forgiveness sometimes. xx 🦅
It amazes me every time anew, some things I do not know.
Thank you very much for a very interesting post.
Every day I learn something new, you are very helpful to me in your posts.
Thank you @nirgf, it encourages me to see posts such as yours because then I know I’m at the right forum. There are still people who want to learn and express their appreciation so thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. xx🦅
I love love love these big feathery headdresses - they're so detailed and beautiful, and I'm a sucker for anything that has inherent meaning within the details! It's easy to see how someone would try to appropriate them for style-reasons.
I remember that when I lived in British Columbia, there was so much first nations cultural art from that region that they would frequently be infusing those designs into non-tribe specific things. It was always a topic of conversation up there, and it was always a mixed bag of responses from the Bands. Some of them (usually older generations) thought it was offensive, and some of them liked that their arts and stories were being woven into the province's identity.
I think it's a delicate balance - if you're going to appropriate something, then at least do the research and know what you're saying by using those designs, particularly if you're not of that original culture. Preferably get someone who is experienced in the symbols of that culture and an active part of that culture to weigh in. As you say, these days there's really no excuse for ignorance!!
@deronsnec I’m so happy you love the feathers too and have experienced the controversy behind symbolism and just asking. The warbonmet is a definite No, but the other symbols used in modern attire the NAs just want to be asked. They love the whole being asked permission thing, respect, etc.
most find it offensive the younger people either are not too into the culture, or they talk behind your back. LOL
There is a lot of that going on, openly on FB. I love them a to death but sometimes the anger, gossip can be too much. There really is no excuse for ignorance from anyone. A’oo. xx 🦅
I learned something new again. I always find the headdress of the native tribe amazing and powerful. Little that I know about the controversy you you writing on, thank you for shedding light on this. Peace
Glad you learned something new. Happy you feel this way about the headdress. Thankful I could be the one to shed some accurate info to you on a very important issue.
Yeah.. it's great to learn about other people's culture. It's quite sad to see sometimes when i travel, people never tried to find out even a little about the culture of the place they are visiting, and do something which totally disrespectful to others.
I agree, I've traveled quite a bit myself and lived overseas a lot too. I totally understand what you are saying.
Each culture has its own line to walk... and for some reason every one seems to dismiss the Native American Indian culture across the board. It’s disrespectful and truly sad. I hope people try to educate themselves more and stop to think before they dishonor any culture.
@jeejee
Your statement is very true ... yes the Native American culture gets dismissed quite a bit. Thank you for your understanding and compassion. That is a lovely statement, and a word I use a lot myself .. "hope". I am thankful there are people still out there willing to listen and take heart. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
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yay! thank you. xx