When you look at this Cherokee Headdress, you see an encapsulation of the entire Cherokee culture.  This headdress meets the eye as something that seems to be made for aesthetic purposes, but this could not be farther from the truth.  Every piece of the headdress is a symbol not only in Cherokee life, but to all Native Americans.

            The Cherokee headdress is entirely made from things in nature.  The first thing one notices when looking at the headdress are the various Eagle feathers that are placed all around the leather skull cap.  These feathers are tied together by raw hide and near the bottom of the feathers is down, a type of feather that comes from under the exterior feathers of a bird.  The last piece of the headdress is the beadwork around the sides of the leather skull cap.  These beads are made from dried berries, Indian corn, and the remains of wild animals.  Each of these aspects illustrates the Cherokee’s unity with the nature around them and how the headdress symbolizes their lifestyle.

            These headdresses were only worn by elite male warriors and tribal leaders.  They were especially important in ceremonial services within tribal events.  Being able to wear a headdress was a sign of a man’s honor and courage throughout his lifetime, as they were not earned in a short amount of time.  Because they were so important to both the Native Americans and more specifically the Cherokee’s culture, the headdress became a part of their traditional roots that they could hold on to, especially when they had begun to be kicked out of their original living areas.

            The Native American headdress is a symbol of an entire people and how they live.  Since each aspect of the headdress is so dense in meaning, one can get an insight of their entire lives and what they value.  Each piece adds its own special meaning to the whole object, and without one piece it would not have the same importance in the Cherokee culture.  The headdress is able to capture vast areas of Cherokee life, and it displays why the headdress was so important to them and everyone in their communities.

                                                                        By Jack Weaver