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The Headdress and War Bonnet

• Headdresses have deep spiritual and cultural meaning for American Indians.
• The feathered war bonnet is the headdress that many people typically associate with American Indians, and is the one that popular culture most generally uses to portray American Indians.
• Worn mostly by Northern and Southern Plains tribes, American Indian people create the regal crown by hand from the feathers of eagles, considered the sky's greatest bird and believed to have the power to protect the wearer from harm.
• The headdress is a symbol of leadership, and each feather is earned and shows a position of leadership.
• Not everyone in American Indian cultures has the right to wear headdresses. They are reserved for special cultural or spiritual occasions.
• Balance between the promotion of stereotypes and actual knowledge and respect for how American Indians use the headdress as a cultural treasure is always the goal.

Face Paint

• Like the feather of a headdress, face paint has purpose and often contains great spiritual significance depending on tribal protocol and individual interpretation.
• Face paint, like feathers, is earned through actions and deeds that bring honor to both tribes and nations.

To many American Indians, the idea of individuals outside of the American Indian community who have not earned the right or permission to wear a Headdress, War Bonnet or face paint would be analogous to casually wearing a military uniform and displaying medals when one has never served as an active member of the military.