Week Seven: Regalia
Dhurva S -
Welcome all to my sixth blog post.
When celebrating their spiritual dances, the Pueblo wear various regalia. The regalia differs from each culture and event.
The regalia donned during these dances were reflective of the nature surrounding them. Often these natives would wear animal hides to beckon this spirit within them. For example, if one were to wear the regalia of the deer, they would in turn skip around like a deer on four feet and behave like a deer would. Likewise, they would wear the regalia of animals such as the buffalo, coyote, wolf, or eagle.
Eagle feathers are highly revered in Pueblo culture. They were important because they would represent the highest strength and courage. These feathers are worn around the regalia and on the tops of antlers.
The method of gathering eagle feathers was of particular interest to me. To get these feathers the Pueblo village would send a youth up to an eagle’s nest when it is empty. He would then wait for the eagle to come back. When the eagle came back, they would seize its legs and pluck enough feathers so that the eagle was still able to fly. This process was taxing on the youth however was traditionally the method of gathering eagle feathers. They have used new methods such as building aviaries nowadays to gather eagle feathers.
It is also interesting to see parrot feathers worn in certain events. Even before any Spanish influence, the Pueblo cultures have worn parrot feathers. It’s indicative of an extensive trade network connecting South America. This trend also extends to seashells which are not found in the deserts of New Mexico. These would have been also traded from the coasts.
In exchange for these rare materials, the Pueblo would trade in other luxury items such as turquoise and pottery. Pueblo pottery was highly renowned and each culture has its unique style.
This traditional form of pottery is still practiced to this day and I will go more in-depth on Pueblo pottery next week.
Thank You