An imitation red-tailed hawk feather (made from a trimmed and dyed turkey feather) prepared for use as a hat feather worn during Stomp Dances and other Southeastern Indian ceremonial gatherings. The feather is unmodified except that a hole has been made in the backside of the quill above the tip. The quill was placed through a buckskin thong with a slit in one end (through which the quill was passed). With the slitted thong above the hole in the quill, the unslitted end of the thong was run into the hole and out the opening at the tip of the quill. The slitted end wraps around the quill and keeps the thong in place. The thong extends below the end of the quill. This is used to tie the feather to the top, side, or back of a man's western hat, often with a safety pin.

This turkey feather may have been dyed to appear similar to an eagle feather.

Tags: turkey, feather, hat
People: Euchee
Places: Southeast, Oklahoma
Purpose: ceremonial use

From interviews with Dr. Garrick Bailey, 2018-2020 University of Tulsa, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology