Hey Ellen, Most, but not always all, Indian people believe that the owl is a messager of bad news. At Pow Wow's and gatherings where there are people of all tribes, you would never have owl feathers because of offending the ones who do believe in this. My grandmother believed that if an owl landed in a tree in your yard, it meant that someone in the family would die. I have seen her run outside and throw sticks at one to run it off when I was a little girl. My mother also believed this. I have a friend who is a fullblood Cherokee and he told me he was not bothered by them, but told me what he did to a friend one time at a pow wow. A lady came up to him and had a fan for sale, which had a beautiful fully beaded handle, but had owl feathers in it. He told her he wasn't interested but pointed out a friend setting across the circle from him and told her to go ask him, he might want to buy it. So she walked around the circle, started talking to the man, then showed him the fan. The man jumped up, and fell over the chairs while trying to get away from the fan, as my friend watched all of this, he was laughing his head off. Later, the other man told him he saw him laughing, and while kidding, said he was going to kill him! LOL Some, more than others, are deathly afraid of Owl feathers. The Drum has been known to get up and leave the circle in the presents of owl feathers. Even if someone doesn't believe this, it is out of respect for the ones who do believe this, to never use owl feathers on any part of your regalia, or anything you have, especially anytime you are going to any intertribal types of events.... pow wows... gathering, etc. As all Indian People revere the Eagle as the bird to take our prayers to God, then next is the Hawk, the Eagles little brother, the owl is the messenger of bad news. So that's what I know about Owl feathers... does anyone else know other things to add? Markie At 09:22 AM 04/25/2000 -0500, you wrote: >Hey Girl, > >Those owl feathers needs explained not only to me but to the Chatha list. >Why are owl feathers bad luck and so on. Yep? That went right over my head. >Need to know do all Injuns feel that way? Give us a lesson girl! > >Ellen > >