"Mandan" Headdress

[scottlollar]

Forgive me if I use the name it is commonly known by, but I don't know the actual name of the style of headdress. Most comonly, I've seen paintings of Cheyenne & Mandan warriors wearing them.
My question is how would you go about making one? A bonnet blank, like you could use for a warbonnet? Is there a specific number of feathers to use? Are there a specific type of feather to use? Are there restrictions for making or wearing them in the arena? I've seen them on several people, and they look great. But I wasn't sure of the restrictions, if any, or the significance.
I was told that the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers (in the 1800s), even though they were not Chieftains, tehy were allowed to wear this 'alternate' style of headdress because of that particular Warrior Society's role in the tribe, and the role of the soldiers in the governing of the tribe.
Anyone have any specifics on this? Or on the making of them?

Thanks in advance.

[Tx_grass_dancer]

Dog soldier headress

I think this one has been covered a lot in the traditional forum but can't find the threads. I asked last year I think and got some good answers. But you may want to re-think making one as I did because of the significance involved. Here is a thread about the subject for you to read.

http://www.powwows.com/gathering/showthread.php?s=&threadid=563

I wish I could find the thread I started. It was pretty good and gave a lot of information about the headress then and now. Also depending on the feathers you use it may not be a dog soldier headress. The dog soldier headress was made with magpie and other scavenger birds which ate the dead carcusses of the slain enemies. Since magpie feathers are illegal I have seen then made with dyed black pheasent feathers that were trimmed alittle. I assume with proper trimming any dyed feather could be used to look like the headress. But I would think about it before you do it. Unless you have been given the right to wear one.
As for actualy making one the link has many tips for you.

[scottlollar]

Thank you very much. The thread you gave me did give me some insight. As with anything in this, it's best to find out what I can before starting any project. I'll do even more research to find out more. It seems some people don't feel this is much of an issue, where others feel it is a large issue. So, better to be safe than sorry - I'll probably stick with my roach. :)
But, I'd still like to know how they are made, even so. I like the bit in that thread that mentioned using .22 casings to mount the feathers. That's good stuff. Now to determine where to get spent .22 casings and how to drill holes.
:D

Scott

[Tx_grass_dancer]

Making them seems pretty easy just time consuming. Start with a war bonnet crown from crazy crow or where ever, or a baseball cap (fitted is best) with the visor thing off or on. Leaving it on will keep the feathers from getting on your face if you dont put the feathers in right. You will need hundreds of feathers I think a person on one thread quoted about 400. You poke holes in straight lines from the bottom to the top. Put a loop on the bottom of the feather like you were making a war bonnet. Then I guess put shoestring or leather through the loop. Im not sure if you would tie each one individualy or run a piece through all of them. You will need to put horse hair on a few of them here is a pic I've found of one thatt someone was selling made with pheasant feathers dyed and trimmed.

[tcumonster]

Scott,

Thought I would pass this along. There was a pretty good article about making the "Dog Soldier" bonnet in the most recent Whispering Winds. It talked about using a baseball cap, which is interesting not only from a construction standpoint, but also from a wearing standpoint. If you don't have access to a copy, let me know. Hope all is well.

tcumonster

p.s. I have often wondered what others thought of people wearing the DS bonnet without having earned the honor. Not sure, but for a while there you were seeing a lot of folks wearing them.

[scottlollar]

I'm going to have to check out the library to see if they have that Whispering Winds mag. I checked out their website, but they don't have articles or magazines for download. I can order back issues, though. Otherwise I don't have access to the magazine. I might check out Barnes & Noble, though. They've usually got a pretty eclectic selection of magazines.

Scott

[Tx_grass_dancer]

What you may have seen people wearing is not actualy a dog soldier headress but a feather hat. The diffrence is in the types of feathers used. You will see alot of feather hats I havent seen many actual dog soldier headress. I don't know of any of the significance behind the feather hat I'm sure there is some, but it is more accepted and dosen't seem to cause as much controversy as the dog soldier headress. You may want to look into that if you wanna make one. The feathers that used RW on his feather hat is what iv'e seen.

Hawks,Ospreys and Eagle. There are Owl and Vulture in it too.

You may want to ask someone who wears one what feathers they used, the significance behind it, and whos allowed to wear one. It never hurts to ask. Try posting these questions on the Traditional forum but don't say a dog soldier headress try asking about a mop top or feather hat. and you should get some good answers. A lot of people on that forum wear them so it's worth a shot.

When you finish post up a pic of it. Pm me if you want some pics of feather hats and dog soldiers.

[spottedeagle]

We had a dicussion on "Mop Tops" in the N. Tradish section about a year ago or so. I can't find it in the archives though. But Tx_grass is right best thing to do is ask someone who wears one. I've seen a couple made out of turkey feathers that didn't look too bad.
Can also try putting up another post. Just title it mop tops. Everyone will know what you are talking about.

[Tx_grass_dancer]

Personally I would stay away from the barred turkey, it doesn't look very good as a mop top iv'e seen one. But spanish turkey or darker turkey might look good. Try and see what feathers you can find. A lot of them now use multiple types of feathers. If you can't have real eagle or hawk maybe immatation ones would work.

Just my thoughts.

[scottlollar]

I've seen a mop top that used brown feathers - I think they were turkey or maybe goose - not sure. But the thing had white feathers as well - could have been the same type of feather just dyed. Anyway, it looks a bit, well, large. It doesn't look right, somehow. I think the feathers are just too long for that style of headdress.
Scott

[C_Rock77]

Aren't the old-school DS bonnets made from Magpie feathers?

I've seen some good examples of mop tops or feather hats made from black turkey feathers. the feathers were trimmed, so the headdress wasn't as big as if they'd used the full length feathers.

Looks like I need to try to get some back issues of Whispering Wind! I'd love to make one of these headdresses!

I need to dig up my picture of Cricket Shields wearing his old mop-top. He's since made a feather hat that doesn't look as good, IMHO. He had 2 Immature Golden tails on the top that stuck out. It looked SWEET!