How to Make a Tail Feather Ceremony Fan

Pow-wows are an important and revered ceremony in many American Indian tribes, bringing together the community to watch dancers and singers commemorate occasions such as a marriage, naming or healing. During these events, some performers will use a bird's tail feather fan as part of their dance. While many American Indians traditionally used eagle and hawk feathers, obtaining any part of these birds is now illegal. Instead, create your own tail feather fan using the beautiful fanned tail of a turkey.

Things You'll Need

  • Bird
  • Knife
  • Pliers
  • Wire brush
  • Bucket or sink
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Hair dryer
  • Borax
  • Duct tape
  • Two-stage epoxy glue
  • Brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Grab the base of the turkey's tail end in your hand. With your other hand, locate a round knob, which is the flesh and meat portion of the animal that holds the tail feathers to the body. Hold the knob and cut off the flesh about 6 inches away from the knob to remove the tail and its feathers.

    • 2

      Place the bird's tail on a flat surface. Remove any bones still attached to the bird by twisting them off with pliers. Use a knife to scrape and cut away the meat and fat from the skin. Always cut away from your body. Be careful not to slice through or between the feathers. To clean around the feathered area, rub a wire brush between the quills.

    • 3

      Fill a bucket or sink with warm water. Mix some grease-cutting liquid dish soap in the water until it's bubbly. Place the feathers into the water. Gently swoosh them back and forth in the water. Carefully rub any noticeable dirt or grease stains with your finger. This will help the feathers look their best when the fan is completed. Dry the feathers by blowing them with a hair dryer set on a low heat. Make sure the feathers and skin are completely dry.

    • 4

      Pour one box of borax onto the skin of the tail. This cleaning solution will preserve the bird's tail by drying the skin and make it unappealing to insects. Vigorously rub the borax into the base of the tail and between the feathers, both on the front and the back of the piece.

    • 5

      Lay the tail on a piece of cardboard or another flat scrap material. Spread the feathers naturally into a fan shape. Cut two strips of duct tape (which won't stick to the feathers) and lay them in an upside V shape across the fanned feathers. This will help the feathers keep their shape during the curing process.

    • 6

      Blend together the ingredients of a 5-minute, two-stage epoxy glue, according to the manufacturer's directions. Dab a brush into the adhesive. Coat the tail's base with the epoxy at the base where the fanned feathers meet. Wait about 30 minutes for it to dry.

    • 7

      Remove the duct tape and turn over the feathers. Apply another layer of epoxy to the backside of the tail feather base. Allow the adhesive to dry before handling the finished fan.