Who were given white feathers and what did this mean?

Answer 1

I know that some white feathers were given to men of fighting age who refused to fight. They were given to them by the women of their village or clan as a sign is disgust of their cowardice. However, There is a shamanic white feather curse blessing associated with the giving of a white feather as well. It is said that when you are given a white feather by someone, it carries the powers of a blessing or a curse, dependent on what you do with the feather once it is given to you. If you covet the feather by adding it to your cap, placing it in your home or lodge on proper display, or adding it to a charm of good luck or talisman of protection, then it carries the power of blessings for you and your home or lodge. However, if you throw the feather away, bury it, or deface it in anyway, it then acts as a curse and will curse you or your lodge. Many Government men who entered into treaties with Native American tribes and clans were given white feathers by the clan elder or shaman. The government official would either take it as a true gift of friendship and covet it as such or he would seem to covet it face to face, but later discard it as so much malarkey and rubbish. Then the gift of the white feather acted as a curse. It was a way for the shaman or clan elder to protect his clan from liars and those who spoke with forked tongues...