Quotes About War bonnet

When a warrior had enough feathers to make a war bonnet, he invited a few of his friends to his tepee. After enjoying a meal and smoking the pipe, they ceremoniously laid out the feathers and sorted them according to size. As each feather was being prepared, the story of the deed performed by the warrior in earning it was retold. Then the feather was fastened in its place on the war bonnet.

Some of the famous warriors of the Western Plains earned more coup feathers in their lifetime than were required for a full-sized headdress. These warriors were allowed by tribal law to make and wear a war bonnet having either a single or double row of eagle feathers hanging down the back. Originally these bonnets were only knee length, but when the Indian started to ride horses, the tails were extended to the wearer's heels.