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Lv 7
? asked in Society & CultureEtiquette · 6 years ago

Help, Native Americans?

I was wondering what the significance is (If any) When a Brave wears his head dress with the feather facing down. I saw this in a film recently, I always thought the feather faced 'up'...

3 Answers

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  • Kanien:kaha'ka-[]-[]-^-[]-[]
    Lv 7
    6 years ago
    Favourite answer

    There isn't one Native American culture. We all have our own traditions. Here is the significance in my people. I'm Haudenasaunee (Iroquois) Mohawk Nation. There are 6 different Nations within this confederacy and each one wears feathers in a specific way to denote which tribal nation they are. Our men wear gustowehs and the eagle feathers are worn as such:

    Mohawk - 3 standing up

    Seneca - 1 standing up

    Onondaga - 1 up, 1 down

    Oneida - 2 up, 1 down

    Cayuga - 1 down

    Tuscarora - No eagle feathers at all.

    Here is a diagram using our language http://www.wampumshop.com/mediac/450_0/media/Iroqu...

    Source(s): mohawk
  • Wiininiskwe *Ajidamoon*
    Lv 7
    6 years ago

    Just what film was this? That is a pertinent detail in order to determine which tribe the "brave" might have been from, and thus the reasoning.

    Source(s): Ojibwe
  • Laura
    Lv 7
    6 years ago

    Because this was in a movie, i would assume that this was just an inaccuracy about the culture, that the director liked how it looked more than it being accurate.

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