What kind of feathers are the ones used to make a Native American’s chief’s headress? From what bird(s)does they come?
The stereotypical ones that you are probably thinking of are eagle feathers.
I would think it might depend on the tribe. Which is to say it depended on where you lived. Eagles are not everywhere in the US.
Ah! Thanks! I didn’t even think of the eagle! Duuh…
Wait, are you saying eagles don’t occur everywhere, or their feathers weren’t *used *everywhere? Because I’d find the former very hard to believe.
ETA or you may have meant “common everywhere”, which seems more correct.
Start searching on Indian Headress and you’ll see that the type you are talking about has been popularized by the media, but only represents one type of headress. IIRC these were the type used by the Lakota/Dakotas. Other types used other feathers, other basic design structures, and many other materials.
Eagle headdresses are illegal to possess unless you can prove ownership prior to the 1962 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and even then they cannot be purchased or sold. I think it’s only a misdemeanor but still…
Here is a beautiful bonnet that was repatriated in 1999- http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/99-59.htm