War bonnet
With Warbonnet of the North American is Indians head worn bonnet called. It was an award for special achievements and bravery in war and was mainly common among the plains Indians . The most valuable war bonnets were made from the feathers of the eagle , which was revered as the most powerful of all birds.
The bonnet of a successful or famous warrior could tell the viewer the life of the wearer. The war bonnet was only put on on special occasions and was a highly valued symbol . Its value lay less in its beauty as a decorative item than in the special protection that a war bonnet gave the wearer. The number of feathers indicated the number of victorious battles. A war bonnet was not easy to obtain and many warriors were only given two or three feathers in their lifetime. Great respect was shown to those who wore a war bonnet. Such an award, for example, was given to a warrior who first touched an enemy in battle, proof that he had fought on the front lines. The feathers were notched and decorated to tell of the deeds of a warrior. They testified whether he had fought on foot or on horseback, touched, killed, scalped, or captured an enemy.
When a warrior had collected about ten awards, he would make sure there were enough eagle feathers to make a war bonnet. In some tribes there was a specialist who had permission to hunt the bird. An eagle's tail with twelve perfect feathers was the equivalent of a good horse. Eagle hunting, however, was a dangerous and time-consuming undertaking. The hunter was traveling alone, probably having to leave the tribal area and move into the mountainous country where the eagles could be found. When the mission was successfully completed, certain ceremonies were held to appease the spirits of the slain bird.
Today in the United States, possession of eagle feathers and other body parts of bald eagles and golden eagles is strictly regulated under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act . Federally recognized Indians can obtain feathers and entire bodies of eagles for religious and cultural purposes through the National Eagle Repository in Denver , Colorado .
literature
- Raymond J. DeMallie (Ed.): Plains . Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC 2001 (= Handbook of North American Indians ; Vol. 13, Parts 1 and 2), ISBN 0-16-050400-7 . (English)
