Regalia for the Plains Indian Warrior often represented brave achievement and served to entreat special spiritual protection of "countin coup: or being skilled enough to touch an enemy, steal his horse, or take his weapons during an engagement. It was believed that the golden eagle was a special emissary possessing solar powers as it soared from the heavens to the earth bringing warmth from the sun and messages from the Great Spirit. It took many long years for a warrior to earn enough feathers for a war bonnet. The exquisite beadwork honors the mystery of this ceremonial traditon. In lieu of eagle feathers, leaglly obtained turkey feathers are used in this headdress have been hand died to look like eagle feathers.