grayback

A question of pure curiosity:

What do you folks think of using eagle feathers in place of turkey spikes on hackle bustles?

I've seen a few eagle-feather fancy dance bustles, and plenty of turkey hackle bustles, but on 2 occasions I've seen a fancy dancer who took eagle feathers, cut them down as one would cut turkey spikes, and then used them in place of turkey spikes on hackle bustles.

What do you folks think of using eagle feathers for that purpose?

Personally, it makes me kind of sad to see the feathers get cut up like that, danced with "hard" usage in that dance, and then of course, the thought that later in life, they're not really going to be fit to use for much of anything else (or are they?)

Just wondering,

-grayback

Tsi-tse Wa-tsi

Some of the first fancy dance bustle were made with eagle feathers and hackles. Many of them are still around. Eagle feathers are stronger and hold up to the riggers of the dance much better the turkey spikes. I don't know if you see these bustles much up north but down south there are still quite a few. Granted there are a lot more turkey spike bustles. I say if you have the spikes use them. Over time you can collect spikes from folks. A lot of the time people get replacement feathers from the Eagle depository and a lot of time they are the wrong size or the feather they will replace is not good for a traditional bustle or fan but will work just fine in a fancy bustle. With time you should be able to collect the required number. And if not you can always get more from the depository.

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travelingmocs

I have seen them used lots of times. It all depends what you have. If you look at the old Crow bustles they had feathers that were cut down and used. Eagle feathers have been used for everything, and cutting them down is fine. It has been done for years and years...................

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crazywolf

Boozhoo niji,

Honestly if I had 72 eagle spikes to use for a set of bustles, I would make a set of eagle bustles in a heartbeat, but the hackle bustles fit a little better with the appearance of my regalia and stuff.

I think what I would do, and have thought about it a lot, is to make a set of hackle bustles, and then make a second row of spikes using the eagle spikes inside each of the bustles. I dont know how this would work, or if it would work. It would give theappearance of a set of hackle bustles without clipping the eagle spikes, and still using the eagle spikes.

Anyway, thats my two cents worth.

Derek

sookout sh'nob

Heh, cho.

Not long ago I was out and about in the bush and found quite a few spikes that had had thier tips broken/chewed on/consumed by insects/etc. While I was standing there trying to decide if i should pick them up, the old man i was out hunting with came along, so i asked him what he thought. Here's what he said: "You work with broken people, might as well work with broken feathers too."
( I was working as a counselor and therapist at the time.)

Long story short, now i FINALLY know what to do with all those broken feathers I've been picking up over the years.

Good work fellas.... good work :D

Wojapi4Me

Over the years, I've seen some really nice hackle sets made with eagle feather spikes. Boye Ladd's set comes to mind first.

Personally, I couldn't ever cut them up, but that's just me. I don't criticize those who do. I really like the natural eagle bustle sets so I would make it like that. Tommy Snowball's set comes to mind when I think of that style.

Crazywolf - I've seen two sets made before that were double row fancy dance bustles. Both were natural sets and didn't incorporate hackles. They looked nice, and were both taken care of really well.

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Furiously-Fancy

I have a set of turkey spike bustles with black & white tail feather centerpieces. Since black & whites are so difficult to come by I didn't want to alter or damage them in any way. The turkey spikes on the outside keep the black & whites from getting damaged and it looks real good too!

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Mike Hawk

It All Depends On Tha Type Of Dancer And How Mature They Are! My Dad Has Some That He Made A Couple Years Ago... So Far He Hasnt Had Any Broken Feathers *Knocks On Wood* Some Other Dancers That I Have Seen Are Boy Ladd, Dwight Whitebuffalo, Jeramiah Holybull, And Some Other Older Guys Down South. A Lot Of People Have Been Askin Me About My Dads.... They Say Its Cool And That They Want Some.... I Dont Really See Anything Wrong With It

WhoMe

gback,

Eagle feathers are not accessable to everybody. Eagle feathers, for those who are able to access them, are becoming harder to come across. When I was growing up, I remember we always had access to eagle feathers. Not true now.

I grew up making bustles. I first learned how to tie hackles from Darrell Wildcat.

My dad and I made Boye Ladds first hackle bustles and gifted them to him when he returned from Vietnam.

I have made all kinds of bustles I used to own 5 sets. Some were all eagle with no trim. Others were all hackles with no feather showing (Lamont Laird started this style).

Bottom Line......

"Fancy feather dancers have always trimmed eagle feathers since fancy dancing began."

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Joe's Dad

Who Me...

Did Boye ever tell you the story of how long angora leggings came to be?lol

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WhoMe

J'sDad,

No he didn't. He spent the night at my house on his way home from the Cali circuit 3 wks ago.

I will ask him the next time we talk.

Maybe you can fill in the blanks?

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe