The Native American bustle is a traditional part of a man's regalia worn during a dance exhibition or wachipi ( pow wow) and originates from the Plains region of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. In its modern form, the men's bustle is typically made of a string of

eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, j ...

or hawk feathers attached to a backboard.

Eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, j ...

and hawk feathers are sacred

religious Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatur ...

objects to Native American people and the possession of eagle and hawk feathers are protected by the

eagle feather law In the United States, the eagle feather law provides many exceptions to federal wildlife laws regarding eagles and other migratory birds to enable Native Americans to continue their traditional, spiritual and cultural practices. Under the cu ...

(50 CFR 22). There are several types of bustles, the modern one being in the shape of a U and the other, traditional bustle or "old-style" bustle, being circular. The dancer's style generally dictates the type and number of bustles worn. A typical '' traditional dancer'' wears a single bustle while '' fancy dancers'' generally wear two bustles, one attached to a belt above the buttocks and another attached to a harness on the back.

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* * * * Native American clothing Pow wows {{NorthAm-native-stub