During the various conflicts that dotted the 18th and 19th centuries, in the so-called Indian Wars between white settlers and North American Indians, almost 50,000 Indians and some 19,000 white invaders perished.
The Plains Indians settled on the great plains of central North America were nomadic peoples who followed large herds of buffalo and occasionally settled in a settlement where they grew corn. The white man's invasion, the gold rush, the desecration of the Black Hills (Black Hills), the extermination of the buffalo herds…they left them no choice but to confront the white man. Among these Indian peoples there was the custom of starring in the so-called counting coup (could be translated as acts or displays of courage ) to prove their worth in battle and, also, to overcome childhood and become warriors. Among the various tests of bravery - against the "pale faces" or other Indian tribes - was touching the enemy during battle with the hand or with a stick and stealing weapons or horses from their camps. The feathers served as a sign of these achievements:if they were unharmed they could put an eagle feather on their heads and if they were injured they could paint it on their bodies .