Behind First Nations headdresses: What you should know

 Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, describes the headdress as being 'tied to my ceremonies and the fasting that I've done over the years on the land and that's where the eagle feathers come from.' (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

By Lenard Monkman, CBC News
   When headdresses make the news, the story usually revolves around non-indigenous people wearing them — and whether that's appropriate.
   Recently Tsuu T'ina First Nation made national headlines, and stirred up debate, when it gave Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a headdress and an "aboriginal name," Gumistiyi, which translates to "the one that keeps trying."
   Some music festivals have banned headdresses, and last year the Winnipeg Jets hockey club decided to bar fans from wearing headdresses at home games after a Chicago Blackhawks fan showed up sporting one.
    So what is the significance of the headdress and who should be allowed to wear one? CBC Aboriginal reached out to First Nations leaders in Canada to find out how they received their headdresses and what it means to wear one...Continue reading...



http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/behind-first-nations-headdresses-1.3506224