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The History of Native American Dreamcatchers

What is a dreamcatcher?

A dreamcatcher is a handmade willow hoop with a web woven inside. They have a hole in the center of the web and can include feathers or beads. They are traditionally suspended over cradles or sleeping areas to protect from bad dreams or spirits. ²

Where did dreamcatchers originate?

Dreamcatchers can be traced back to the Ojibwe peoples and, over time, became introduced to and adopted by other tribes.²

The Ojibwe Legend goes:
“Spider Woman took care of her children, the people of the land, and she continues to do so to this day. Long ago, in the ancient world of the Ojibwe Nation, the Clans were all located in one area called Turtle Island. When the Ojibwe Nation dispersed to the four corners of North America, Spider Woman had a difficult time making journeys to all those baby cradleboards, so the mothers, sisters, and grandmothers weaved magical webs for the new babies using willow hoops and sinew. The shape of the circle represents how Grandfather Sun travels across the sky.” ³

What are its uses?

The web absorbs unwelcome dreams at night and releases them during the day. The good dreams come through the center hole, and some believe they glide down the feathers, descending on the infant or adult sleeping below.²

What is the symbolism of the different parts?

The dreamcatcher is a circle to represent the earth² and the Sun.³ Many dreamcatchers have 8 points where the web connects to the hoop in honor of Spider Woman.³ Some dreamcatchers have a feather in the center to symbolize breath or air.³