Native American tassels

I had a thought when hiking the other day. What if the tassels that Native American clothing is known for had the purpose to keep mosquitos and other insects off?

Horses and other herbivorous use their tails and or long ears to flick away insects.

I looked it up and the internet says that tassels helped direct rainwater away from the body, but I still can't help wonder if they had another purpose to keep insects off.