Proud Indians. Eagle feathers and their significance in tribal culture

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

The history of the Wild West is covered with a halo of mystery, romance and adventure. Everyone knows that the New World was inhabited long before Columbus rushed in search of new Spanish colonies. Initially, they were people from different parts of Asia. After the famous navigator landed in the Bahamas, which, by the way, he confused with the shores of India, he met natives (locals), whom he immediately renamed Indians. In Russian literature, this term was adapted and began to sound like "Indians".

Liberty-loving tribes of South America

Columbus sailed long ago, and his followers, who visited the shores of America, continued to call the natives Indians. Thus, the name stuck and is successfully used to this day. However, over time, sailors began to notice that not all people called Indians are of the same type of appearance. Representatives of some tribes were thin and small, others were stocky and broad-shouldered. The first began to be called the Indians of Southern Argentina, and the others - the Indians of Peru.

Indians. Feathers on the head as a badge of honor

The eagle feather was of particular importance in the culture of these ancient primitive tribes. The Indians valued and protected feathers (the meaning was given to eagles). The eagle itself has always been a symbol of courage, honor and justice. It was these birds that were highly valued by the inhabitants of America. Each tribe had several stories and stories about eagles in their arsenal. The Indians wore feathers exclusively in their hair, sometimes they even decorated the manes of their favorite horses, without which it is impossible to imagine the Wild West today.

Beautiful rituals with eagle feathers

This is where the old Indian tradition of decorating clothes and hair with eagle feathers came from. Looking at them with the naked eye, you might think that they are exactly the same, but upon closer inspection it becomes clear that there are not even two duplicate copies. The Indians skillfully distinguished feathers. In their culture, they even served as wedding rings. A man who found two eagle feathers had to keep them until he met a suitable girl with whom he wished to share his fate. The Indians used feathers for honorable and important ceremonies.

But the natives had more than just romantic stories associated with them. Of these, the most real military headdress was made. This isthe craft was a true art! The number of feathers on the headdress of the warriors testified to how many enemies he killed or wounded. The collection of trophies was replenished with feathers obtained in battle from the hair of the enemy, which the Indian later inserted into his military headdress.

It is noteworthy that many Indian tribes even had a special profession - eagle catcher. He was strictly forbidden to kill a bird, he could only pull out a few feathers from her, and then set her free.

Wild West Civilizations

Indians have always been intellectually advanced people. Their tribes were carriers of a whole culture, had their own separate organized life. They possessed gold and precious stones that were worth a fortune. At the mention of this, European sailors were delighted. Of course, there were also poor tribes of Indians. They were less numerous and settled mainly on the coastline of South America.

Thanks to the skillful leadership of Indian chiefs, a complex system of social hierarchy was created in each tribe.

Sang of nature and love of life

Although the material condition of the tribes could differ significantly from each other, their religion and attitude to nature were remarkably similar. Most of the Indians believed in the other world of spirits that dominated the human essence, believed that nature is a living substance that rules the world. At that time, such beliefs were fundamentally different from the beliefs of Europeans, whoex alted man above all things.

However, Europeans could learn a lot from the native Indians in relation to attachment to nature and to all living things that inhabit the planet. The natives believed that man is the brother of everything that exists, and he should not interfere with nature and violate its original structure. They did not share the land, it was common property. By this they emphasized their respect and respect for her. It is noteworthy that some Indian tribes to this day do not want to accept elements of the civilized world. It concerns the cultivation of the land. They flatly refused to use various mechanical agricultural technologies for cultivating the land. This, in their opinion, will mutilate and cut her body.

These independent and unconquered South Americans set an example for modern society in how to relate to nature and life. They loved the world and valued their traditions.