How many tribes actually wore feathers and what was the symbolism?

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Many tribes used feathers, but I think that your question might be, how many wore the full head dresses of eagle feathers that are portrayed in cowboy movies, right? If that is what you meant, very few tribes did, and these were only worn for very special occasions, sort of like you'd expect the queen of England to wear her crown. Headdresses are very heavy and uncomfortable.

Most tribes that used feathers would either weave them into their hair, or use them put together by the quills and with the quills then wrapped with leather, as a tool for Shaman (along with drums and rattles). Also, Eagle feathers weren't/aren't the only ones used. Hawk, Owl, and Raven feathers are also used (for different purposes.)

I've always thought that it was very funny that the cowboy pictures always show the full headdress regardless of where in the country the tribes were located. For instance, many John Wayne movies were filmed around Monument Mountain, which was indeed considered sacred by the tribes in that area. However, those tribes did not wear full headdresses.

Here I go with my 2 cents again...
As all animals are considered sacred as are the parts off them, granted different tribes believed different things but thats beside the point.

Feathers from all kinds of birds are used. Eagle, Hawk, Owl and Raven are just some of what you might call 'the big ones'. As for meanings, I look at several sources and then come up with my own deduction. For instance, a swan could represent fidelity, loyalty, royalty etc, but in my little microcosm seeing a swan or finding a swan feather would instantly make me think of a friend of mine and wonder if something permanent had happened to or for her.

In the case of eagle feathers, it is my understanding that they are earned, either for feats of bravery or those that garner alot of respect from the tribe/nation. I've also seen them as gifts of mourning, A friend of mine was gifted one after her mother passed and there was a section cut out of it to represent the loss of her mother. Talk about experiencing a moving ceremony...

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