The Legend of the
Dreamcatcher
The
Legend of the Dreamcatcher
Long ago in the ancient world of
the Ojibwe Nation, the Clans were all located in one general area of
that
place known as
If you are awake at dawn, as you should be, look for her lodge and you
will see
this miracle of how she captured the sunrise as the light sparkles on
the dew
which is gathered there. Asibikaasi took care of her children, the
people of
the land, and she continues to do so to this day.
When
the Ojibwe Nation dispersed to the four
corners of
The Dreamcatcher will filter out all the bad bawedjigewin (dreams) and allow only good thoughts to enter into our minds when we are just abinooji.
You
will see a small hole in the center of each
Dreamcatcher where those good bawadjige may come through. With the
first rays
of sunlight, the bad dreams would perish. When we see little
asibikaashi, we
should not fear her, but instead respect and protect her. In honor of
their
origin, the number of points where the web connected to the hoop,
numbered 8
for Spider Woman's eight legs or 7 for the Seven Prophecies.
It was traditional to put a feather in the center of the Dreamcatcher :
it
means breath,
or air. It is essential for life. A baby watching the air playing with
the
feather on her cradleboard was entertained while also being given a
lesson on
the importance of good air. This lesson comes forward in the way that
the
feather of the owl is kept for wisdom
(a woman's feather) and the feather of the eagle is kept for courage (a
man's
feather).
This is not to say that the use of each is restricted by gender, but
that to
use the feather each is aware of the gender properties she/he is
invoking.
(Native people, in general, are very specific about gender roles and
identity.)
The use of gem stones is not something that was done by the old ones. Government laws have forbidden the sale of feathers from the sacred birds, so four gem stones are used to represent the four directions.
The
woven Dreamcatchers of adults do not use
feathers. Dreamcatchers made of willow and sinew are for children, and
they are
not meant to last. Eventually the willow dries out and the tension of
the sinew
collapses the Dreamcatcher. That is supposed to happen.
It belies the temporary-ness of youth.
Adults should use Dreamcatchers
of woven
fiber which is made up to reflect their adult 'dreams'. It is also
customary in
many parts of