Tyler Childers Reflects on “Feathered Indians” and Native American Concerns

Tyler Childers shared that he decided to stop performing one of his popular songs, “Feathered Indians,” due to worries about how it might affect Native Americans.

In a conversation with GQ, which was published on July 24th, he talked about the thought process behind this choice. The song first appeared in 2017 on his influential album, Purgatory, which significantly boosted his career. However, he hasn’t taken the stage since 2020.

“If there’s a discussion among those individuals about that word, well, it’s not mine to use,” Childers stated during the interview.

Instead of simply setting the song aside, Childers and his wife, Senora, are now contributing to Native American communities. They are donating royalties from “Feathered Indians” through the Hickman Horror Appalachian Relief Fund.

Childers wrote the song in his earlier years, and it includes a line about a red man chewing on his cigarette belt buckle.

The lyrics express, “My buckle makes an impression on the inside of her thighs.”

He mentioned wanting to be respectful, especially noting the discomfort felt by Blackfoot, someone who has played an important role in his life.

“This song has some of my favorite lines and melodies I’ve ever created,” he said, clearly emotional about the matter.

“Not performing that song encourages reflection,” he added.