Make a native american cheif hat (war bonnet)

This is an Instructable on how to make a war bonnet. A war bonnet is a traditional headdress worn by chiefs and skilled warriors. I've always wanted to make one and I had to make one for a project at school, so YAY! I also didn't see an Instructable on one so I decided to make one. (double YAY)

Step 1: Stuff and tools

This is a list of things you will need to make this.
MATERIALS
1. an old baseball hat
2.a cloth belt
3.small "fluffy feathers (2 bags at least)
4.eagle feathers(9 minimum, I used 12)
5.duck tape( you only need about a foot and a half)
6.cardboard.
7.1 foot of wire(you want some that will hold its shape)
8.a spool of thread.
9.animal hide( rabbit or squirrel look the best, you can get these at a craft store)
TOOLS
1.poket knife
2.hot glue gun
3.scissors
4.needle
5.hair drier(optional)

Comments

[Alonwi]

I think it's really nice of you to post this. I also think that people saying negative comments are so sad. How can you take time out of your day to criticize a kid doing a school project? Wow, hope you're all proud of yourselves. I'm sure you enriched your lives with your action. Secondly, I think if you keep the hatred alive, then it's still there. It's over. You can't be offended by people who love the look of something so much that they want to wear it themselves. It's not being offensive, it's showing reverence for a culture which was sadly nearly lost completely! Also, why would you want to lose skills like this? There are very few native american Indians left and I think it would be tragic if the world forgot how to do things. If you want a war bonnet, make one. If you want a medieval bow, make one. If you want to dress up like a 14th century peasant, do it. Life is about love and experience. Not hatred. Thank you so much for being thoughtful and brave enough to post this! I have found it extremely helpful and I hope you didn't take any negative comments to heart. Love and happiness to all. Let's stop the hatred, people.

[Alonwi]

Also, I don't think anyone is planning on wearing one to a reservation, or a native american gathering like, "HEY! I'm here making a mockery of the significance of your traditional garb."

[jesseditson]

I realize that this somehow became a trendy thing to do, and I agree that traditional native american head dresses are beautiful and cool looking. However, it's really offensive to appropriate a spiritually significant piece of a culture that your ancestors massacred.

Think of it this way: It's like if Hasidic curls became cool with German hipsters. It's not cool, it's offensive. Please don't wear this out.

[geewizartcool]

i hope you realize how blatantly xenophobic and irrational that last line was. You have no proof that this kids ancestors slaughtered natives and you have no proof that a given german's ancestors killed jews. And if someone is offended its their own fault, no one, i repeat no one has the right not to be offended.

[AfroSnail]

I love this instruction! It's funny, and very useful!!!! Thank you for posting this. Much of love from me, to you. xxx

[samthor]

given the history of conquest and genocide, Native Americans find this sort of cultural appropriation offensive. Be prepared if you actually decide to wear this out in public.

[iamactuallyalion]

Super cool instructable! Just wanted to mention one thing to those that are hoping to make something like this and are residents of the US.

A federal law known as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects all native birds and their parts from unregulated collection, this includes feathers found on the ground. If you happen to be Native American yourself, you may be exempt from the confines of the federal laws regulating the possession and use of native bird feathers.

With that said I highly urge anyone that is thinking about making a more authentic headdress to consider this before venturing forth with their project, as violation of this Act carries quite a hefty fine per feather. I'm sorry if this comes across as scaremongering as that is not my intention. I'm sure that the OP used imitation feathers, I just don't want anyone to get in trouble over something that can be easily avoided.

TL;DR That badass feather you found on the ground might end up biting you in the ass. Be sure to do your research before using it for artistic endeavors such as this one.

[iamactuallyalion]

Apologies, I see that others have already mentioned this in previous comments. Sorry for beating a dead horse. :]

[virlusun]

This is the awesome idea! We are going to use it in the fashion show this fall 2012. Yes it is illegal to get real eagle feathers, we are not using real feathers in crafts! This is for fun but in my case it is for a fashion show in which we are joining the past history, blending old and new cultures to a wise more practical caring country!

[roseray]

this is really cool u made them ur self

[canderson33]

k guys. like the kid said it's for a school project. give him a break. i know some people get offended when people pretend to be a part of a culture which isn't theirs, but come on- its not like this kid is saying he's a frickin Cherokee warrior or something, he's just doing some arts and crafts for school. And obviously they are not real eagle feathers, seriously?

[romanyroamer]

Hi, Thanks for the instructions, I've used some of your ideas and changed others. Liked that you recycled a cap hat and belt.
Don't worry about the negative comments....there are always some that are over politically correct.
You are not being biased or racist!
Good on you! From a supporter in Australia.

[Moniquill]

Ok, this might violate the 'BE NICE' comment policy, but you need to be told:

This is not in any way appropriate.
No, really. It's not.

http://nativeappropriations.blogspot.com/2010/04/but-why-cant-i-wear-hipster-headdress.html

http://hipsterappropriations.tumblr.com/

http://www3.arts.umich.edu/ink/2010/04/14/the-hipster-headdress-a-fashion-faux-pas/

http://newspaperrock.bluecorncomics.com/2011/03/psa-about-hipster-headdresses.html

[nwebster1]

What store did you get the hide from?

[Stonehopper]

Funny but at all the pow wows I have been to, I have never seen a headdress that looked anything like this. What Nation are you trying to emulate? And I hope those are fake eagle feathers for having real ones can even get a NA in trouble with the Feds if they do not have a card from a Federally recognized Tribe. I have several friends who do not have their cards as well as myself and while we would love to have feathers we have to walk a very fine line and get the fake ones which are usually painted white turkey feathers. One man in Texas had his feathers confiscated and received a very large fine even though he was a member of a State recognized Tribe, they did not have Federal recognition, so please be careful. When doing things to emulate NA things, please research them and their meanings for some of them are very sacred to the people of those tribes and will bring out many bad feelings toward you and others if they are not treated properly.

[shyamiko]

This looks awesome ^_ but just a warning... if those eagle feathers are bald eagle feathers, it's a felony to have them. So just be careful. There's alot of crazy laws.

[michael J. caboose]

sure, what i mean by cutting the band where it touches your ear is, when you wrap it around your head cut it where the band(or belt) is over your ears. for the seccond comment, you put the hat on and place the band on the front of the hat. you whant to make sure the band starts at one ear and goes to the other ear (i used a mirror and it helped a LOT). When you've got your band centered tack it down with a push pin or something else (be carefull not to poke your face). when it is tacked down take the hat off of your head and hand stitch it on tight.

[michael J. caboose]

Thanks for rateing and commenting it means alot to me.

[michael J. caboose]

Plz rate and comment!

[izaak94]

i dont get that of cut it where it toouches your ear

[izaak94]

im stucked putting the band in the hat can you xplain me more detailled please iam afraid i might put it wrong