LIBRARY OF ARTICLES
CHEROKEE MEDICINE WRITINGS
FEATHERS
by Susan Bates
Feathers are very important to our people. We use them in medicine fans, prayer feathers, hair ornaments and clothing, because we believe that each individual bird has some spiritual gift, wisdom or power to impart to us.
Eagles feathers are the most powerful and are used in medicine fans by chiefs, warriors and medicine people to connect with the Great Spirit - the All That Is. Hawk feathers represent the Messenger and carry our prayers to the Heavens while Turkey feathers call forth abundance.
Smoke from the sacred tobacco, sage, cedar and sweetgrass are passed over the body and around an area by feather fans to cleanse and make holy a sacred space. Our prayers are carried upward on the smoke fanned by the feathers of the bird people.
Prayer feathers are used in healings and for personal prayer as every bird has some power or gift to bring to those who understand how to use it. Some birds and their feathers are avoided by the Cherokee. For instance, owl feathers are never taken into the sacred fire circle and are best avoided altogether, unless a person has been given the gift of owl medicine and knows how to use it. The same is true of raven, crow and buzzard. They have their uses, but much harm can be done by an untrained person innocently playing around with spirits from the dark side.
The Cherokee wore feathers in their hair, but not the plains styled feathered war bonnets of the Lakota, Paiute, or Crow. Eagle feathers were earned and worn proudly tied to scalp locks of men's hair. Ball players wore eagle feathers in their hair as they believed the feathers would give them speed and flight when playing the game.
The Peace Chief or Uku, took office clad in a cape made of white swan feathers. He wore a hat also made of white swan feathers while he was performing his duties in the council house. The Peace Messenger and the Peace Pipe Dancers wore head ornaments of white swan fluff. Medicine men often wore feathered capes made from cardinal feathers. Wives of the priests also wore feathered capes to denote their status.
The War Chief took office wearing a cape made of red-dyed eagle feathers with one red eagle feather worn straight up from his scalp lock. The War Chief's counselors wore red dyed turkey feather capes with 2 red feathers held together by a silver gorget on top of the head. The red color worn by these counselors was lighter than that worn by the chief. So if you see a Cherokee "Chief" all decked out in a Lakota headdress, point at him and laugh. There is no need to run from him. His feathers will trip him up.
"Once we walked the earth and our bodies were strong.
Once we started each day with deep breaths and grateful thanks
for all around us.
Once we used the medicines, prayers, and ceremonies
that cured any sickness we had ... now it's different.
We climb an unknown mountain searching for fresh air.
We walk among an earth disrespected.
We look for plants to heal our weakened bodies,
the plants are polluted and dying as we are.
We use what is left of our ceremonies to try to catch out breath.
We are suffocated.
Our Creator breathed life into us ... he has a message:
"For that which was taken from us will be returned sevenfold."
Our sacred breath - it's time to take it back."
- Nancy Rac, Jicarrila Apache
Some information for this article came from the book "Cherokee Dance - Ceremonial Dances and Dance Regalia" by Donald Sizemore.
Send me your news, powwow and meeting notices at susanbates@webtv.net or write me at HC 73 Box 159-1, Drury, MO 65638.
Susan Bates
Hill & Holler Column
October 3, 2002  ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Bates. Visit Susan's website, Native American Journal, dedicated to helping people rediscover their heritage. She has helped thousands of people reconnect with their beloved ancestors and features insider tribal news. The Native American Journal is a truth-seeking, truth-telling website honoring everyone's path and preparing all for the Great Earth Changes. The Native American Journal supports Leonard Peltier, the Dineh, and Mother Earth.
E-Mail: susanbates@webtv.net
Website: http://members.tripod.com/-susanbates/nativeamericanjrnl-index.html
(We are all related)
WORDS FROM 'TWEEN
Thank you, thank you, thank you. If only our western daughters could learn this, they would realize just how absolutely beautiful and valuable they truly are first to Creator, to themselves, to their families and to their community. Bless you, Susan, for putting voice to my thoughts and heart's feelings. |
