Need advice: run in with Kilt (feather?) Police

[Galician]

The interesting thing is here in America the wearing of eagle feather's are by federal law reserved for Native Americans only it is illegal for anyone esle to wear them here. I have a few quail feathers I wear with my tam on occassion. The last time anyone said something to me I just gave them my "Dirty Harry/Mean Drill Sergeant " look and they walked away!

Yes, this thread had me wondering if any clan chiefs who came here wearing their eagle feathers could be arrested and deported for violating those laws.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Yes, this thread had me wondering if any clan chiefs who came here wearing their eagle feathers could be arrested and deported for violating those laws.

As far as I know, the Feds haven't pounced on anyone at a Scottish event who was wearing eagle feathers. If they did, it would be interesting to see how the courts would react to a law that specifically prohibits one group of people from exercising their cultural identity, while allowing another group to exercise theirs, based solely on race. Perhaps an American lawyer would care to give us his curbstone opinion?

[RainyDayPiper]

The interesting thing is here in America the wearing of eagle feather's are by federal law reserved for Native Americans only it is illegal for anyone else to wear them here.

Sort of, but that's not the full story. It's illegal for most people to wear bald eagle feathers, golden eagle feathers, and other feathers from eagles that are native to North America. However, there ARE eagle species on other continents that are not protected, such as the South African sea eagle, and armigers/chiefs can obtain them legally. Always be careful, though, because a lot of officials may not know the difference or the ins-and-outs of the law, and there is a lot of confusion due to wording of the law. For example, not even all Native Americans are legally allowed to possess bald eagle feathers-- only those who are members of legally-recognized tribes, which excludes thousands of Natives that are in tribes that have yet to be recognized, or who are not official members of a tribal group. To my knowledge, law enforcement typically lets that slide.

But an armiger who doesn't have legal access to eagle feathers will often wear feathers from other birds, such as hawks, pheasants, dyed turkey feathers, etc, and you can also buy immitation eagle feathers. More commonly these days, however, the feathers are cast from silver and attached directly to the armiger's cap badge. They're usually only an inch or so tall, as today's style is more subdued.

Personally, if I were not an armiger, I wouldn't wear a feather in my cap that sticks out much at all (including a long pheasant feather, which armigers have been known to use to denote their status); if anything, it would be a small plume or hackle that wouldn't be confused with a feather sticking out of the cap badge. And, yes, I'd call it macaroni . Or perhaps more appropriately, I'd stick a feather in my cap and call it MacAroni

[McMurdo]

Gentlemen whether Halbrook is misquoting Webster or not is not the issue, in this thread the arms being discussed are not the same as in the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. Any further discussion down this path will result in either the locking of this thread, infractions for members or both, you've been warned gents.

[james a. husky]

After reading just the first post, I was inclined to post a cautionary tale about the displaying of certain animal parts in certain areas.

As an 18th century reenactor, I've come across a variety of issues pertaining to a number of displays that might have (a couple did) landed the individuals in very hot legal water!

From feathers in cockades, to bearskin helms, bear fur hackles, etc... sporran leather... we have to realize that both State and Federal law apply (and just going across a State border can have a new set of laws applied to your kit).

Indians (some of them, so you REALLY need to know your laws, here) operate under a slightly different set of rules. Some are due to Tribal or Religious applications or treaty.

I have no idea about the intracacies of Highland feathery, but I'd be far more concerned about the legal aspects of animal parts and be certain that my certification (You can get permits to maintain certain (otherwise illegal) things for "educational" purposes.) and paperwork is carried on my person and in order.

Jim aka kiltiemon (And I DO have two falcon feathers (as wind indicators) on the end of an 18th century Cherokee hunting blowgun... My ex wife used to fly them before we met and she still had some feathers though that was before the permitting system)

[BroosterB1]

Solve the whole problem and wear peacock feathers, along with my peacock cloak....ith:

[Bugbear]

Solve the whole problem and wear peacock feathers, along with my peacock cloak....ith:

Only if you are going to slay a bull.

[thescot]

Solve the whole problem and wear peacock feathers, along with my peacock cloak....ith:

Or-r-r-r-r-r, . . . . maybe not!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

An interesting note that few may be aware of is that the custom of wearing silver eagles' feathers cast as part of the crest-badge originated with the military to denote rank within various Scottish regiments, the highest ranking officers having three feathers and the lesser ranking ones having two or one. This can be seen on some of the older obsolete regimental bonnet badges worn during the Victorian period. Like so many other details of Highland dress, this affectation was adopted from the military by civilians in the latter part of the 19th century, just as the strap and buckle surround that bears the motto on clansmen's crests, modelled after the Order of the Garter insignia. This style was quite unknown prior to the Victorian era, as evidenced by portraits and actual crests from the Georgian period and earlier.

Without wishing to sound querulous, might I ask you for citations-- other than mere opinion-- for your statements concerning feathers cast as part of a regimental badge being indicative of military rank, and the basis for your contention that the strap and buckle devise used as a clansman's badge is based on the insignia of the Most Noble Order of the Garter?

[Ronusan]

Wow, thanks everybody! You've all been very helpful and I really appreciate all the feedback. It definitely helps me a lot more to know this kind of context. I like the plant badge idea but Cochrane wasn't on that list! I'll just cross my fingers that ours is the Palm Tree so I'll have an excuse to carry around some extra shade at the next festival.