The Myths and Legends Behind Dream Catchers

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Takoda takes a bit of break and asks both of them what it’s like where they live. The two of them tell him about the Candy Kingdom and all the friends that they have there. Yeti talks about Tiffi and how excited she will be when they share all of this with her. Just then another Native American walks by.

“Hey Kosumi, would you like to meet two people that just fell from the sky a little while ago?” asks Takoda.  “This is Kosumi and his name means fishes for salmon with spear.  He loves to catch our fish daily.”

Kosumi waves hello and then continues walking towards the water. Time for Takoda to continue.

‘The dream catcher is one of the most enduring and widespread symbols associated with Native American culture. It’s commonly believed that the iconic hoop-and-web form is meant to protect sleepers from bad dreams by “catching” them, while letting good dreams pass through, hence the name.

However, the real story behind dream catchers is a little more complex. While some see it as a symbol of unity among tribes, others feel the dream catcher has become misappropriated and over-commercialized. Despite this polarization, the origins of the dream catcher and the beliefs surrounding it remain a fascinating part of American history.

Cultural Background - Protective fetishes (objects believed to have special powers) appear in numerous indigenous cultures, but the dream catcher typically associated with Native Americans originated in the Ojibwe (Chippewa) culture. Traditionally made from a willow branch hoop, nettle fiber or sinew, and decorations such as beads and feathers, the origins of the dream catcher are associated with a figure from Ojibwe mythology known as Asibikaashi, or “the Spider Woman.” This mother-figure was a protector of the people, especially children. Dream catchers became a proxy for Asibikaashi as the Ojibwe nation spread over a larger geographical region, a tool hung over children’s beds to capture any bad or evil before it could cause harm.

As Western tribes gradually contacted one another through trade and intermarriage, the dream catcher legend permeated other cultures. The Lakota have their own dream catcher legend associated with a trickster god, Iktomi, who often appeared in the form of a spider. In Lakota culture, dream catchers represent “the web of life,” with its many good and bad choices. The dream catcher is meant to filter the bad ideas of society from the good, leading the people to achieve their dreams and visions. During the Pan-Indian movement of the late 20th century, when many tribes of indigenous peoples sought unity for cultural stability, the dream catcher became widely associated with many different Native tribes and nations.’ (Source)

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