As the Ojibwe Nation spread to the corners of North America it became difficult for Asibikaashi to reach all the children and the mothers and grandmothers wove magical webs for the children, using willow hoops and sinew, or cordage made from plants. Some consider the dreamcatchers a symbol of unity among the various Indigenous Nations, and a general symbol of identification with Native American or First Nations cultures. An Ojibwe legend recounts that the dreamcatcher originates with Spider Woman, known as Asibikaashi who took care of the children and the people on the land.
Dreamcatchers are usually placed in a window or above the bed, allowing the good dreams to drip down the feathers onto the sleeper. As one might suspect, the purpose of a dream catcher is to catch dreams-that is, to trap bad or evil dreams and channel good dreams to the sleeper. Dreamcatchers were gradually adopted by some neighbouring nations through intermarriage and trade.
Have you ever given a thought about the pretty dreamcatchers that you hang on the walls of your room?ĭreamcatchers are spidery ‘sacred hoops’ with feathers and have long been a part of Native American religion, lore, and art, originating with the Ojibwe, or Chippewa, and the Lakota, a confederation of seven Sioux tribes.
