What is a Dreamcatchers?

Recently, I've found something interesting about dreamcathers. In my opinion, It's very beautiful, and the history behind it is so meaningful. Dreamcatchers are the most recognizable Native American symbol in the country today. For many Native Americans, they represent tradition and the dreamcatcher legends that have been handed down for generations. For some, they are the symbol of Native American unity. But for others, dreamcatchers are simply tacky tourist souvenirs that are made in China and shipped to this country to be sold as authentic Native American crafts. Several Native American tribes have tried to bring their meaning back by crafting dreamcatchers from traditional materials. By learning the meanings behind these beautiful, woven circles, you can gain a deeper appreciation of the craft and the beliefs behind their creation.

History of Dreamcatchers

Dreamcatchers are thought to have originated with the Ojibway tribe of the plains, but many other tribes such as the Chippewa and Lakota have their own versions of the dreamcatcher legend. The first non-Native American documentation was by a scholar named Francis Densmore in 1929. Although there are many variations, a dreamcatcher is basically a small circle of wood that is tied with sinew or thread to resemble a web with a small hole in the middle. The strings or sinews are tied at several points on the circle, with the number of points on the dreamcatcher having different meanings:

*  13 points – the 13 phases of the moon
*  8 points – the number of legs on the spider woman of the dreamcatcher legend
*  7 points – the seven prophecies of the grandfathers
*  6 points – an eagle or courage
*  5 points – the star

A dreamcatcher can also have a feather tied to the bottom and beads or animal tokens hanging on the strands. Traditional dreamcatchers are only a few inches in diameter, but you will see contemporary models anywhere from a few inches to 1 foot across.

Legend says that if you hang a dreamcatcher above a bed, it will catch the bad dreams in the web while letting the good dreams through the hole in the middle. As the sun’s rays hit the dreamcatcher in the morning, all of the bad dreams will evaporate.

Dreamcatchers became popular during the pan-Indian movement of the 1960s and 1970s as a symbol of renewed Native American pride. They can now be found at almost every reservation in the United States and Canada. While you can find cheap imports at many souvenir stores throughout the West, it is a good idea to try to purchase the authentic article whenever possible. By buying dreamcatchers that have been made by native people, you can help keep the tradition alive and help support native tribes. Several websites specializing in authentic Native American items have been offering authentic dreamcatchers for sale. Try websites such as native-language.org/dreamcatchers for a list of craftspeople who make and sell authentic dreamcatchers and dreamcatcher.com for some beautiful examples for sale.

Application and Purpose of Dreamcatchers

The dream catcher is hung above a sleeping area, ideally in a place where the morning light will fall on it. It is the nature of a dream catcher to attract all dreams to its web. When bad dreams come, they cannot find their way through the woven pattern, and become trapped in the webbing…where the first light of day causes them to melt away and perish. Good dreams navigate their way through the center of the web, however, and they slide down the lowest-hanging feather to inspire the peaceful sleeper below.

Legends of Dreamcatchers

Each tribe has a similar dreamcatcher legend, but each legend has slightly different twists that are particular to that region of the country.

Ojibway Legend 
This is the story of how the spider woman brought the sun back to the people of the world. Once, the Ojibway people were gathered together as one nation. As the people dispersed to the four corners of North America, Asibikaashi (the spider woman) swore that she would continue to take care of the children, but couldn’t get to each bed every night. The women of the tribe wove magic webs shaped like a circle (which is how the sun travels through the sky) and hung them over the cradleboards. Just as the spider woman traps insects in her sticky web, the bad dreams are trapped in the web of the dreamcatcher and perish as the sun hits them every morning. Many mothers tied a feather to the hoop in the center representing breath or air. The baby would watch the feather and be entertained as it danced on the wind above its head.

Chippewa LegendThis legend says that dreamcatchers were made to prevent children from awakening with the fear of the bad dreams still in their eyes. Mothers wove a web on a willow hoop while saying sacred words and thinking happy thoughts. They would hang the sacred feathers from the center so that when the good dreams find their way to the center, they will float down the feathers and sprinkle onto the sleepers. An owl feather stood for wisdom and was placed above the beds of girls, while an eagle feather stood for courage and was placed above the beds of boys.

Lakota Legend In this legend, an old spiritual leader had a vision. Iktomi, the great teacher and trickster appeared as a spider. Iktomi took the elder’s willow hoop and began to spin a web as he spoke of the cycle of life from infant to old age. He told the elder that if you listen to the good ideas, the forces at work will steer you in the right direction. If you listen to the bad, the forces will steer you in the bad direction. He showed the elder that the web was a perfect circle, but had a hole in the center. Iktomi told him that the good ideas will be caught in the web, but the bad ones will go through the hole and not stick as it sifts the dreams and visions of his people.

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