Dreamcatchers

Dreamcatchers were invented by the Ojibwa (Chippewa) people.

In Ojibwa (Chippewa) culture, a dreamcatcher (or dream catcher; Ojibwe asabikeshiinh, the inanimate form of the word for "spider", or bawaajige nagwaagan, meaning "dream snare") is a handmade object based on a willow hoop, on which is woven a loose net or web. The dreamcatcher is then decorated with personal and sacred items such as feathers and beads.

Ojibway people would tie sinew strands in a web around a small round or tear-shaped frame--in a somewhat similar pattern to how they tied webbing for their snowshoes--and hang this "dream-catcher" as a charm to protect sleeping children from nightmares. The legend is that the bad dreams will get caught in the web. Traditionally Native American dreamcatchers are small (only a few inches across) and made of bent wood and sinew string with a feather hanging from the netting, but wrapping the frame in leather is also pretty common, and today you'll often see them made with sturdier string meant to last longer.

During the pan-Indian movement in the 60's and 70's, Ojibway dreamcatchers started to get popular in other Native American tribes, even those in disparate places like the Cherokee, Lakota, and Navajo. So dreamcatchers aren't traditional in most Indian cultures, per se, but they're sort of neo-traditional, like frybread. Today you see them hanging in lots of places other than a child's cradleboard or nursery, like the living room or your rearview mirror. Some Indians think dream-catchers are a sweet and loving little tradition, others consider them a symbol of native unity.

So where can you find one? Here's links to online Dreamcatcher litterature and art.

Books about Dreamcatchers
Tso

Illustrated instruction kit by a Navajo couple on how to build dreamcatchers.
Audrey Osofsky (Author), Ed Young (Illustrator)

Beautiful picture book about an Ojibwa baby's dreamcatcher.
Becky Ray McCain (Author), Stacey Schuett (Illustrator)

Gentle story of a contemporary Chippewa girl learning the dream-catcher tradition.

Dreamcatcher Crafts


Southwestern Dreamcatcher
Style 35153

Dreamcatcher with Feathers
10" Ring Diameter

Dreamcatcher / Beaded with Feathers
9" Hanging Length


Native American Style Sterling Silver Dreamcatcher Turquoise Feather Hook Earrings

Landstrom'sŪ 10K Dreamcatcher Pendant with Chain

DREAMCATCHER Real Pewter PENDANT Necklace


Dreamcatcher with Feathers, 18" Hanging Length, Set of Two

Authentic Handcrafted Aztec Indian Mandella Mandala Dreamcatcher Dream Catcher Turquoise Beads

Dreamcatcher Kit-Wind Feather


DREAMCATCHER-BEADED BLUE-BLUE FEATHERS

DREAMCATCHER-BEADED PINK/PURPLE FEATHERS

DREAMCATCHER-NATURAL W.RAINBOW CENTER


DREAMCATCHERS-BIG CHIEF

DREAMCATCHERS-BLACK ARCH

DREAMCATCHERS-PURPLE SML


Bear Dreamcatcher Adult T-Shirt

Wolf/Dream Catcher Adult T-Shirt

Bear Dreamcatcher Adult Sweatshirt