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The Sacredness of Feathers

“Prophecy says that it is now the time to share some of the sacred traditions of tribal culture. The four colors of man will be coming together to unite and heal. Creator has given different gifts and responsibilities to each of the four colors. Ours is to help preserve Earth for all the children. Time is running out. It’s time to act.”  — Indigenous Spiritual Leaders of the Americas

 "Our culture is derivative of the natural resources. If our culture dies, the only reminants are its physical attributes, which will soon be dispersed to the natural environment. If that happens, there will be no trace of our living culture." — Stuart Harris, a Cayuse Indian & senior staff scientist, Department of Natural Resources, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

It is considered a high honor to receive a feather as a gift and embellished feathers are often given as a gift of friendship. When a spirit feather is given as a gift, the person receiving the feather is being given a symbol of honoring a person's respect, love and is a sign of providing gratitude

 The Meaning of Feathers play an important role in the spiritual belief system of tribally born native American cultural and spirituaal beliefs, and in turn, are emphasized and taught the same way in Oklevueha Native American Church. The beliefs are based on "Animism" which embodies the spiritual idea that all natural things within the universe, including birds, have souls or spirits.  Animists believe that souls or spirits exist, not only in humans, but also in birds, their feathers and in animals, plants, fungi, rocks,minerals, metals, and natural phenomena. The doctrine of animism is that everything is alive, and possesses an inherent virtue, power and wisdom.

 

 The generalized meaning of feathers signify honor, and connect the receiver with both the Creator as well as the bird that the feathers came from. Warriors are awarded a feather when they were particularly brave in battle. When a feather falls to earth, we believe that it carries all of the energy of its former attachment on a bird to a living being. Feathers are perceived as gifts from the sky, as are shells gifts from the sea and leaves are gifts from the trees. Feathers arrive unexpectedly, but not without purpose.

 Birds are revered as bringers of messages and symbols of change and often symbolised light-hearted freedom and their feathers have many spiritual, ceremonial & ritual uses. Decorated feathers were sometimes attached to sacred pipes  or prayer sticks. In the ancient culture and traditional ways of we Native born Americans, the meaning of feathers are inextricably tied to the belief that birds, as spirit guides, walk through different stages of life with a person, teaching and guiding them, and in some instances forwarning as well as protecting them.

 birds have a special knowledge to communicate with other animals. Therefore, feathers hold a special higher power in communications for humans.

Meaning of Feathers of the Bluebird: A feather from a bluebird symbolizes happiness and fulfilment


Meaning of Feathers of the Crow: A feather from a crow symbolizes balance, release from
past beliefs, skill and cunning


Meaning of Feathers of the Dove: A feather from a dove symbolizes love, gentleness and kindness


Meaning of Feathers of the Eagle: A feather from an eagle symbolizes great strength, courage leadership and prestige. The bald eagle and the golden eagle were considered sacred birds


Meaning of Feathers of the Falcon: A feather from a falcon symbolizes soul healing, speed and movement

 

Meaning of Feathers of the Hawk: A feather from a hawk symbolizes guardianship, strength, and far-sightedness


Meaning of the Feather of the Heron: A feather from a heron symbolizes patience, grace and confidence


Meaning of the Feather of the Hummingbird: A feather from the hummingbird symbolizes love, beauty, intelligence - A Spirit Messenger and Stopper of Time


Meaning of the Feather of the Kingfisher:
 A feather from a kingfisher symbolizes luck, patience, speed and agility


Meaning of Feathers of the Owl: A feather from a owl symbolizes wisdom, the ability to see things normally, a creature of the night - silent and swift,


Meaning of the Feather of the Raven: A feather from a raven symbolizes creation & knowledge - the Bringer of the Light


Meaning of Feathers of the Swallow: A feather from a Swallow symbolizes peace and love


Meaning of the Feather of the Turkey: A feather from a turkey symbolizes abundance, pride, and fertility


Meaning of the Feather of the Woodpecker: A feather from a Woodpecker symbolizes self discovery


Meaning of Feathers of the Wren: A feather from a Wren symbolizes protection

 Both the meaning of birds and their feathers are of great significance as they are believed to possess supernatural powers that can embody, attach and influence a person empowering them with the powerful traits, attributes and characteristics of the bird. The following chart describes the meanings of feathers providing information of the significance of each bird together with its meaning, attributes, characteristics and symbolism.

 

 The Eagle is considered to be a messenger to God. In christianity the eagle parallyl's to the Jesus/Messiah of the bible. It was given the honor of carrying the prayers of man between the World of Earth and the World of Spirit, where the Creator and grandfathers reside. To wear or hold an Eagle feather causes the Creator to take immediate notice. With the Eagle feather, the Creator is honored in the highest way.

 

 Eagle feathers represent honesty, truth, majesty, strength, courage, wisdom, power and freedom, especially the Golden and Bald eagles feathers. As they roam the sky, they are believed to have a special connection to God. According to traditional tribal American beliefs, the Creator made all the birds of the sky when the World was new. Of all the birds, the Creator chose the Eagle to be the leader... the Master of the Sky.

 

 The Eagle flies higher and sees better than any other bird. Therefore, its perspective is different from other creations that are held close to the Earth, and it is closer to the Creator. The Creator also has a different perspective of what occurs below in this world of physical things in which humankind resides. The Eagle spends more time in the higher element of Father Sky than other birds, and Father Sky is an element of the Spirit.

 

 The wings of an Eagle represent the balance needed between male and female, each one dependent upon the strengths and abilities of the other.

 

 When one receives an Eagle feather, that person is being acknowledged with gratitude, love and ultimate respect. The holder of the feather must ensure that anything that changes one’s state of mind (alcohol) must never come in contact with a sacred Eagle feather.

Eagle feathers were awarded to Indian Braves, warriors and Chieftains for extreme acts of valor and bravery. These feathers were difficult to come by, and were earned one at a time.

For an Oklevueha member to earn the right to Honorably wear a feather, they will have to appear before their church branches High Elder Council and tell or reenact his exploit which act of bravery is believed to have earned them the right. Witnesses will then be heard and questioned as to the account, and, if in the eyes of the council, the deed was thought worthy, the Brave will then be blessed with recognition to wear the feathers in his hair or headdress or War Bonnet as blessed to do so by the churches Elder High Counsel. Please note though, that Only the great and important members within the church branches have the right to wear the double-trailed War Bonnets.

Eagle feathers are never to be abused, shown disrespect, dropped or contaminated.

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