The following information is from a book named Dream Catcher written by Donald and Sylvia Tso.
Do you ever have dreams that frighten or upset you? Do you ever have dream you like so much you wish you could save them to dream again and again?
Everybody dreams, and almost every culture ha different idea about what dreams mean. The Native Americans who lived in North America long ago considered dreams to be very important. They believed dreams came to sleepers from a place called the spirit world. In some tribes a special person was chosen to be a "dreamer"-someone who would interpret other people's dreams for them.
Because the world of dreams wa so ignigicant to many Native American tribes, they took care to sort good dreams from bad. When a baby was born a dream catcher was hung on his or her cradleboard. All dreams, according to these Native Americans, had to pass through the dream catcher. Bad dreams were trapped in its webbing, while the center hole allowed wise and virtuous dreams to pass through. These good dreams drifted gently down to the sleeping child.
Today, dream catchers are still being made by many Native Americans around the country. Modern dream catchers come in all shapes, sizes, and color. There are dream catcher earrings, necklaces, and even dream catcher Christmas tree ornaments. Some Native Americans hang large dream catcher in the doorways of their home to trap evil spirits trying to sneak into the house.
When was the first dream catcher made? No one knows for sure. We do know that early in the twentieth century the Ojibway tribe, which lived in northern Minneota, hung ornaments from a baby's cradleboard. One of thee ornament was a dream catcher, a wooden hoop about 3 1/2 inches (9 cm) in diameter. The inside of the hoop was strung with twine made from plant fibers that had been dyed dark red with the juice of a root mixed with the inner bark of a plum tree.
A dream catcher resembles a spider's web. Just as a spider's web traps inects, the inner webbing of a dream catcher is meant to catch and hold bad dreams. Often, one colorful bead, placed somewhere near the middle, represent the spider. Some Native Americans call the spider the Keeper of Dreams. To others, the spider's name Iktome.
In one story, the spider devours wicked dreams before they bring unhappiness or pain to the sleeping infant. In another story, bad dreams are held captive by the strands of the web until Father Sun rises and causes the dreams to perish, just as the rising sun makes dew disappear from the flower.
Many years ago, the Pawnee tribe of the Norhtern Plains created a charm similar to the Ojibway dream catcher. The web inside the Pawnee circle was said to symbolize the Spider Woman, a spiritual being who ruled over the buffalo.
Even after the Native American child had outgrown his or her cradleboard, the dream catcher that had hung from it grew in significance. With each passing year, ornaments symbolizing the child's achievements were attached to the dream catcher.
Imagine a dream catcher that belonged to a Native American boy growing up long ago. You might see a special memento of a race won against other boys in the tribe. You migh also notice an eagle feather--the symbol of a daring coup performed in battle, such a touching an enemy without being injured. There might be the claw of a bear hanging down from the dream catcher, the bear that the youth helped kill on a hunt with other members of his tribe. Perhaps also displayed would be the tooth of a wolf he killed because it had threatened the tribe's own animals.
In time, more mementos of the young man' achievement in battle, hunting, or competitions might be hung from his dream catcher. And you would see that what began as an ornament and a dream protector had become a showcase of the boy's accomplishments and feats in life.
How would the dream catcher hanging ober the bed of a Native American youth look today? The young peron might attach a special feather earned in a ceremonial dance competition at a recent powwow. A blue ribbon won at a 4-H contest might hang from the hoop, along with an award earned for doing community service with his or her scout troop. The pin earned when the youth pitched the winning baeball game might be displayed, a well a a length of beaded leather from the drum stick he or she used as a firt-time drummer.
Mementos of special times, special places, and special people could also be part of a dream catcher. A trinket from a respected grandparent, a beaded ornament from a cherished friend, a tiny picture of a favorite pet, or s small shell collected on the beach are all items the young person might add to a dream cathcer today.
Cutomizing dream catchers in the same manner their ancestor did 100 years ago is one way modern Native American bring culture and tradition back into their lives.
