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Origins of the headdress -

Almost every tribal nation in North America wore some form of headdress. Here, Pawnee Chief Sharitahrish is depicted wearing red face paint, a red feathered headdress, an animal hide cloak, earrings, and several necklaces, including a silver medal.

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Traditional regalia -

Several types of headpiece were traditionally worn by these tribal nations. The feathers used were typically taken from a fallen bird native to the local area of the tribe. Pictured is Chief Ne-Sou-A Quoit of the Meskwaki, or Fox Indians.

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Purpose of the headdress -

The headdress had several purposes. It was worn to intimidate the enemy during battle, but also used for ceremonial purposes. Pictured is Pleasant Porter, Chief of the Creek Indian Nation, who is wearing an impressive Plains Indian feathered headdress.

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Spiritual and political significance -

A headdress also served as protection from the elements. But as an item of great spiritual and political importance, they were only worn by those who had earned the right and honor through formal recognition by their people. Pictured is Chief Sitting Bear of the Arikara, a semi-nomadic Native American tribe who lived on the plains of South Dakota.

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Customs and beliefs -

The type of headdress worn by different tribes depended on the individual tribes' customs and beliefs.

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Highly symbolic -

Highly symbolic, the wearing of a headdress represented bravery and honor. Besides a chief, an outstanding warrior could also be recognized in this manner.

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Roach headdress -

The most common headdress worn by North American Natives was the roach headdress.

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Roach headdress -

The roach headdress was typically made from stiff porcupine hair, deer tail hair, turkey beard hair, or moose hair. Dyed feathers were attached to a leather or bone base and arranged to stand up in a crest-like pattern.

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Roach headdress -

Tribes favoring the roach headdress included the Pawnee, Mohawk, Mohican, Osage, Pequot, Fox, Huron, and Sauk Indians, with both warriors and dancers crowning themselves with this distinctive regalia.

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Warbonnet -

Another common and spectacular headdress was the warbonnet. These were particular to and sacred for the Great Plains Indians, including the Sioux and Cheyenne.

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Warbonnet -

Warbonnets were reserved for only the most highly respected of men. Plains-style war bonnets are made out of eagle feathers because the raptor is considered by most tribes of the Interior Plains to be the greatest and most powerful of all birds.

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Warbonnet -

A warbonnet was highly prized. Once a man had earned enough eagle feathers, he could make and wear one.

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Warbonnet -

Golden Eagle feathers were especially sought-after. And in an ornamental flourish, warbonnets were often intricately interwoven and decorated with items like ermine skins and beads.

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Warbonnet -

Chief Duck of the Native American Blackfoot tribe is pictured here in 1880 wearing a warbonnet and other items of regalia.

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Warbonnet -

In this 1898 photograph, a Dakota Indian chief is seen wearing a warbonnet. Despite the description, warbonnets were largely ceremonial, as they were uncomfortable and cumbersome to wear in battle.

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Warbonnet -

The more feathers a warbonnet contained, the greater the prestige of its wearer.

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Warbonnet -

In fact, a warbonnet carried a lot of symbolism and status for the wearer.

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Warbonnet -

Here, a member of the Nez Perce, an Indigenous people of the Plateau, is pictured in a full-feather warbonnet and braided hair, and wearing multiple necklaces.

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Feather headband -

In stark contrast to the warbonnet was the feather headband. This style was mostly worn by men and women of northeast Woodland tribes, but was immortalized by Sitting Bull in this famous 1883 portrait. A single feather from an eagle, hawk, egret, or crane was worn, attached to the band at the back of the head.

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Buffalo headdress -

Only a few northern Plain tribes wore what was known as the buffalo headdress, including the Sioux. Made from bull horns, buffalo fur, and feathers, this rare headdress was seen on clan elders and warriors demonstrating exceptional bravery.

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Otter fur turbans -

The Pawnee, Osage, and Potawatomi were among some of the southern Plains tribes who crafted and wore otter fur turbans. A ceremonial headdress, turbans worn by chiefs were recognized for the eagle feathers attached at the back.

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Cloth turbans -

In time as it became more readily available, woven cloth was frequently used to make headgear. Southeast Native American tribes such as the Cherokee, Choctaw, and Seminole decorated their cloth turbans with feathers.

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Cloth headbands -

Pueblo Indians, Navajo, and Apache, on the other hand, often chose to wear simple cloth headbands, perhaps embellished with a single feather.

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Basket hats -

Tribes located in the Pacific Northwest—the Salish, Chinook, and Haida, for example—were recognized for the woven basket hats or caps worn by both men and women. In fact, this was the most common headwear seen west of the Rocky Mountains. They were fashioned from spruce roots or cedar bark, which was coiled tightly into a cap, cone, or brimmed shape.

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Respect regarding the headdress -

The headdress today remains sacred to Native American culture. In fact, wearing a headdress as a non-Native is deemed as cultural misappropriation.

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Validation -

Similarly, wearing a headdress when you haven't earned it is extremely offensive to the validity and meaning this symbolic regalia has.

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Women and the headdress -

Women do not traditionally wear warbonnets. However, according to Tribal Trade, females are permitted to wear a beaded headband.

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Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial -

Many Native people get upset or offended when headdresses are used as a costume or mascot, especially as a fashion accessory. Here, a young Crow Indian is pictured wearing a beaded headdress at the annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial in New Mexico.

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Maintaining a centuries-old tradition -

And it's at events like Gallup and other gatherings held by many Native American and First Nations communities that the headdress and other traditional regalia can be fully appreciated in a sociable and authentic setting.

Sources: (Tribal Trade) (Indian Traders) (CBC) (Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial) (National Geographic Society) 

See also: Indigenous America's most sacred landmarks

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