Feathers were ubiquitous in the Cherokee environment and merged into many aspects of the Cherokee culture. Acquisition, preparation and usage of certain types of feathers became traditional rituals and in many cases relegated to specific members of the tribe. Some traditions had to be followed such as the one stating that all feathers except those of an eagle must be found by chance and not acquired for specific needs. The presence of feathers of some birds was attributed to certain diseases.
Eagle Feathers
Eagle feathers, especially the 12 tail feathers, were significant to the Cherokee. The golden eagle, which was called “pretty feathered eagle” by the Cherokee people, was the sacred messenger between earth and sky. Its feathers were used for decoration and ceremonial rituals. In some tribes, a single eagle tail would be worth a horse. Only great warriors or medicine men were allowed to possess or carry golden eagle tail feathers. White bald eagle tail feathers, symbolizing power and spiritual purity, were worn only by spiritual leaders such as a Clan Mother, a chief or a medicine holy man. While others in the tribe could carry or wear eagle wing-feathers or plumes, everyone could wear common bird feathers; water fowl and turkey feathers were also sacred but common.
Owl Feathers
Owls were considered witches or embodied ghosts, and the night cries of the screech owl, horned owl and hooting owl were considered evil omens, so their feathers were not worn. However, one long owl wing-feather or tail feather was soaked in water and used to bathe a child’s eyes to keep him awake all night.
Blue Jay Feather
Blue jays were not especially esteemed by the Cherokees, but soaked blue jay feathers were applied to the eyes to make a child an early riser.
Buzzard Feathers
To the Cherokee, the buzzard was considered a doctor bird that could protect them from diseases such as smallpox. Therefore, feathers from a buzzard had to be taken seriously. Although ball players believed that wearing buzzard feathers caused baldness, buzzard feathers placed over doors kept witches out. A tube cut from a buzzard quill was the conveyance used to blow medicine on a gunshot wound; afterward, buzzard down was placed over the wound.
Great White/ American Egret
The great white or American egret feathers worn by ball players might have originated as peace emblems.
Turkey Feathers
Although turkey feathers did not hold much meaning for the Cherokee, they were widely used in decoration. Women wore turkey feather mantles in the early 1700s. However, they were not worn by ball players for fear of growing a wattle.
Hawk Feathers
Hawks in Cherokee mythology represented unity against a common enemy. The first feathers tied to the crown of all ball players and warriors were not painted, and if not taken from a right wing of a raven or eagle, they were taken from right wings of hawks such as the mountain hawk, sparrow hawk, large chicken hawk or long-tailed hawk. The second feather woven into the first feather in a warrior’s tuft of hair was 3 to 4 inches long and painted or dyed bright red. These feathers were taken from the area directly beneath the tail feathers of a hawk or an eagle.