Owl Feathers

Pete · 03-24-2004, 11:06 PM

what are the oppinions on owl feathers. I have heard that they should not be used for dance by some, and some say it is ok. Would it be better to just not use them at all, as to not offend anyone? If so, what should come of the owl feathers?

**ojibwaysweetie** · 03-25-2004, 01:46 AM

It all depends on the specific ways and traditions of your tribe. Go find out, talk to your elders from your rez.

LadyRedtailedHawk · 03-25-2004, 03:26 AM

Owl feathers are one of those all important issues especially at inter-tribal gatherings. Some nations feel they are "bad medicine" or that the Owl is a death messenger...check with your elders but always remember one thing....never dance with owl at an inter-tribal...the only exceptions SOMETIMES are the old style "mess" bustles and I have seen them cause an uproar at times as well.

Me personally...no problem with owl and I have an owl wing fan which I dance at certain times and places...just one owl is a no no for me...

Good luck and check carefully for all the information from your elders.

LadyHawk

CherokeeTurtle · 03-25-2004, 05:15 PM

From what I know the Owl is a sign of death to most southern plains tribes. But I'm cherokee and I was taught the owl is a sign of wisdom. when I dance wherever I dance I wear a pair of owls as scalp feathers.

Sinsonnary · 03-25-2004, 06:21 PM

BIG big no no in Navajo land.

LadyRedtailedHawk · 03-25-2004, 09:55 PM

Indeed a no no in navajo land, the blackfeet and blackfoot are not that fond of them either....lol. To us Cherokee the Owl is an important messenger and is called "the Night Eagle"...we have only one owl that is known to be our death messenger.

waving to owlkillerwoman

:NoNo no killing owls.... :rofl2:

Sinsonnary · 03-26-2004, 10:16 AM

Ok, ok - the name Owlkillerwoman. Here's the scoop. A Dakota friend started calling me that because he said my personality chased away all the bad things that the owls bring. Kinda cool I guess...it just sort of stuck.
I don't kill owls..;)

Hiya Miss Lady! Hope you can make the pow wow.

03-26-2004, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owlkillerwoman

BIG big no no in Navajo land.

You've been GROSSLY misinformed!!!

**Azhe'ni** · 03-26-2004, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Edge Water Kid

You've been GROSSLY misinformed!!!

What do ya mean by grossly. Just wondering. :)

LadyRedtailedHawk · 03-27-2004, 08:51 AM

Owlkillerwoman.....I did not think you went around killing owls...LOL. But I have a ? about the powwow... is there a giveaway scheduled for Friday Night? Woman's name is "Sabrina" I think....I was trying to sort out some facts from some stuff floating about...

LadyHawk

Sinsonnary · 03-27-2004, 10:43 AM

Yep - a giveaway Fri nite. PM me for details.
Thanks.

WhoMe · 03-29-2004, 04:02 PM

How the owl and it's feathers are viewed and treated depends on one's upbringing.

As many have stated, most tribes believe the owl is a messenger of death or bad news. It also has negative spiritual connotations that I will not expound on an open chat site.

I know of three tribes that have an owl clan. To these tribes, the owl is a good omen and it's feathers represent their clan affiliation.

To many traditional people, the owl body parts have special meanings and have come to them in different spiritual ways.

I would not suggest telling someone they cannot wear these body parts in the dance arena if an individual is wearing them for these reasons.

dancingbeauty · 03-29-2004, 04:31 PM

I was always taught that owl feathers are not to be used because they meant bad luck, but I have a friend who is cherokee and he says they are a sign of good luck to his people so I guess it depends on tribal affiliation.
But it is a good idea to check with your elders before making the decision to use them . :Thinking

03-29-2004, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potawatomi_azhe'ni

What do ya mean by grossly. Just wondering. :)

I'm just referring to these yahoo's here who think that owl feathers are a big "no no" in Navajoland.

.....shows you how much people know......or what they've read or seen in a made for tv movie based on the collective works of a moron like Tony Hillerman.

....and to you Navajo's that might question me on this.....feel free. ....but, you should know enough of you're own culture by now to know that there's nothing terribly wrong with owls or their feathers......they have a place in our ceremonies.....despite what you may have heard or been told. I can legitimately back up what I'm talking about here if you want.

.....or not on here......ya never know who's listening!! aye!

Pete · 03-29-2004, 09:29 PM

Im not Navajo, but I would like to hear the back up for any arguments for or against owl feathers, just out of interest.

Tom Iron Eagle · 03-30-2004, 11:45 AM

Not to end the converstation, but this subject has been on the site many times and there are some great posts in the archives about Owl Feathers and Owls.

And it is great to see that there is a good discussion going on here with it too.

Personally, I hav

03-24-2004, 11:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pete Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Traverse City/Kalamazoo Posts: 4	Owl Feathers what are the oppinions on owl feathers. I have heard that they should not be used for dance by some, and some say it is ok. Would it be better to just not use them at all, as to not offend anyone? If so, what should come of the owl feathers?

03-25-2004, 01:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
ojibwaysweetie PowWows.com Addicts Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Heart of the Great Lakes, Ontario Canada Posts: 4,942	It all depends on the specific ways and traditions of your tribe. Go find out, talk to your elders from your rez. __________________ "Gaa wiin daa-aangoshkigaazo ahaw enaabiyaan gaa-inaabid"

03-25-2004, 03:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
LadyRedtailedHawk Junior Dancer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fort Bragg, NC Posts: 123	Owl Feathers Owl feathers are one of those all important issues especially at inter-tribal gatherings. Some nations feel they are "bad medicine" or that the Owl is a death messenger...check with your elders but always remember one thing....never dance with owl at an inter-tribal...the only exceptions SOMETIMES are the old style "mess" bustles and I have seen them cause an uproar at times as well. Me personally...no problem with owl and I have an owl wing fan which I dance at certain times and places...just one owl is a no no for me... Good luck and check carefully for all the information from your elders. LadyHawk __________________ Measure a woman or man's worth not on what they have but on what they give and how they live their life. Speak the truth for a lie will bite you in the end!

03-25-2004, 09:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
LadyRedtailedHawk Junior Dancer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fort Bragg, NC Posts: 123	owl feathers Indeed a no no in navajo land, the blackfeet and blackfoot are not that fond of them either....lol. To us Cherokee the Owl is an important messenger and is called "the Night Eagle"...we have only one owl that is known to be our death messenger. waving to owlkillerwoman :NoNo no killing owls.... :rofl2: __________________ Measure a woman or man's worth not on what they have but on what they give and how they live their life. Speak the truth for a lie will bite you in the end!

03-27-2004, 08:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
LadyRedtailedHawk Junior Dancer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fort Bragg, NC Posts: 123	Owlkillerwoman.....I did not think you went around killing owls...LOL. But I have a ? about the powwow... is there a giveaway scheduled for Friday Night? Woman's name is "Sabrina" I think....I was trying to sort out some facts from some stuff floating about... LadyHawk __________________ Measure a woman or man's worth not on what they have but on what they give and how they live their life. Speak the truth for a lie will bite you in the end!

03-25-2004, 05:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
CherokeeTurtle Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 3	From what I know the Owl is a sign of death to most southern plains tribes. But I'm cherokee and I was taught the owl is a sign of wisdom. when I dance wherever I dance I wear a pair of owls as scalp feathers.

03-25-2004, 06:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sinsonnary Indio Face Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NC Posts: 63	BIG big no no in Navajo land.

03-26-2004, 10:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
Sinsonnary Indio Face Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NC Posts: 63	Ok, ok - the name Owlkillerwoman. Here's the scoop. A Dakota friend started calling me that because he said my personality chased away all the bad things that the owls bring. Kinda cool I guess...it just sort of stuck. I don't kill owls..;) Hiya Miss Lady! Hope you can make the pow wow.

03-27-2004, 10:43 AM	#11 (permalink)
Sinsonnary Indio Face Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NC Posts: 63	Yep - a giveaway Fri nite. PM me for details. Thanks.

03-29-2004, 04:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
WhoMe PauWau Coordinator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Land of 370 Broken Treaties Posts: 5,495	How the owl and it's feathers are viewed and treated depends on one's upbringing. As many have stated, most tribes believe the owl is a messenger of death or bad news. It also has negative spiritual connotations that I will not expound on an open chat site. I know of three tribes that have an owl clan. To these tribes, the owl is a good omen and it's feathers represent their clan affiliation. To many traditional people, the owl body parts have special meanings and have come to them in different spiritual ways. I would not suggest telling someone they cannot wear these body parts in the dance arena if an individual is wearing them for these reasons.

03-29-2004, 04:31 PM	#13 (permalink)
dancingbeauty Junior Dancer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: nc Posts: 146	owl feathers I was always taught that owl feathers are not to be used because they meant bad luck, but I have a friend who is cherokee and he says they are a sign of good luck to his people so I guess it depends on tribal affiliation. But it is a good idea to check with your elders before making the decision to use them . :Thinking

03-29-2004, 09:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
Pete Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Traverse City/Kalamazoo Posts: 4	Im not Navajo, but I would like to hear the back up for any arguments for or against owl feathers, just out of interest.

03-30-2004, 11:45 AM	#16 (permalink)
Tom Iron Eagle Teen Dancer Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 370	Good Posts in the Archives Not to end the converstation, but this subject has been on the site many times and there are some great posts in the archives about Owl Feathers and Owls. And it is great to see that there is a good discussion going on here with it too. Personally, I hav