How Do native Americans feel about kids making and wearing feather hats before Thanksgiving?
Executive summary
Many Native people and cultural representatives view Plains-style feathered war bonnets as sacred, earned regalia and object to them being worn as casual costumes by children before Thanksgiving; scholarship and cultural organizations say such headdresses were limited to specific Plains nations and carried ceremonial and honor-based meaning [1] [2]. Reporting and cultural-history sites emphasize that not all Native peoples wore these bonnets and that their popular use in festivals or as costumes misrepresents and appropriates those traditions [1] [3].
1. Why a feathered “hat” isn’t just a hat
Feathered war bonnets—often the image people imagine—are historically Plains regalia worn primarily by male leaders who “earned the right” through deeds, honors or ceremonial recognition; they functioned as spiritual and political symbols, not fashion accessories [2] [4]. Smarthistory warns replicas at festivals or in costumes “misuse important cultural and spiritual objects of the Native tribes of the Great Plains,” and that misconception fuels stereotype-driven displays [1].
2. What Native cultural representatives and activists say
Native cultural representatives and activists have publicly objected to non‑Native people wearing these headdresses as costumes or fashion statements, characterizing such use as cultural appropriation and offensive because it strips feathers and bonnets of earned meaning [2]. The Wikipedia entry summarizes this opposition explicitly, noting that activists see these displays as disrespectful when worn by those who have not earned them [2].
3. The diversity of Native headgear—and why stereotypes persist
Many tribes never used Plains-style feather bonnets; other regions had basket hats, roach headdresses, or different ceremonial caps, each with distinct meanings and makers [5] [6]. Educational sources emphasize that the “war bonnet” stereotype arose from selective images in 19th‑century Euro‑American art and later popular culture, which created an oversimplified idea that “all Native Americans” wore the same feathered headdress [1] [6].
4. Why children’s craft and Thanksgiving timing matter
When children make and wear feathered headdresses before Thanksgiving, critics say the activity often repeats inaccurate, monolithic narratives about Indigenous peoples and turns sacred items into costumes—especially given the holiday’s fraught history for many Native communities [1] [2]. Smarthistory and other cultural resources assert that these replications contribute to misunderstanding and perpetuate stereotypes [1].
5. Alternative viewpoints and educational opportunities
Some educators and community members favor teaching about Indigenous cultures through respectful, tribe‑specific materials and inviting local Native voices rather than using generic feather crowns; sources stress the need to explain which tribes used certain regalia and why feathers were earned [1] [5]. Available sources do not mention a uniform Native opinion supporting casual, pre‑holiday costume use—rather, the cited material highlights objections from Native activists and cultural representatives [2] [1].
6. Practical guidance schools and families can follow
Sources point toward replacing generic headdress crafts with activities developed with or led by local Indigenous educators, or focusing on diverse, accurate regional practices [1] [5]. When discussing feathered regalia, emphasize that Plains war bonnets are sacred, earned items worn by specific nations, and explain the historical reasons why replica use can be harmful [2] [3].
7. What the sources don’t cover
Available sources do not mention detailed polling of Native Americans about children’s crafts before Thanksgiving, nor do they provide comprehensive statements from a wide array of tribes on classroom activities; the reporting and educational material here focus on cultural context, historical scope, and activist objections rather than quantitative consensus [1] [2].
8. Bottom line for organizers and parents
Given that Plains-style feathered headdresses are sacred, regionally specific, and traditionally earned—and that Native activists have objected to casual use—schools and families should avoid making or wearing generic feather “war bonnets” as Thanksgiving crafts and instead seek tribe-specific educational resources or invite Native speakers to guide activities [2] [1]. This approach reduces the risk of perpetuating stereotypes and respects the cultural significance documented by the cited sources [1] [5].