1. Dream Catchers

2. What is a dream catcher?
Dream catchers are a craft of the Indigenous people of North America. The original web dream catcher of the Ojibwa was intended to teach natural wisdom. Nature is a profound teacher. Dream catchers of twigs, sinew, and feathers have been woven since ancient times by the Ojibwa people. They were woven by the grandfathers and grandmothers for newborn children and hung above the cradleboard to give the infants peaceful, beautiful dreams.

3.  ”Spiderweb” charm, hung on infants cradle (shown alongside a "Mask used in game" and "Ghost leg, to frighten children", Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin (1929).

5. Ojibwa Legend
According to the Ojibwa story, a mystical and maternal "Spider Woman" served as the spiritual protector for the tribe, especially for young children, kids and babies. As the Ojibwa people continued to grow and spread out across the land, The Spider Woman found it difficult to continue to protect and watch over all the members of the tribe as they migrated farther and farther away. This is why she created the first dreamcatcher. Following her example, grandparents would recreate the maternal keepsake as a means of mystically protecting their children and families from afar.

6. BELIEFS The night air is filled with dreams.
The elders pass their vision onto the younger people.
Indigenous people have dream catchers above their bed to sift their dreams and visions.
It is said the dream catcher holds the destiny of the future.

7. Good dreams
The good will pass through the center hole to the sleeping person. Good dreams are clear and know the way to the dreamer, descending through the feathers. The slightest movement of the feathers indicated the passage of yet another beautiful dream.

8. Bad/evil dreams
Bad dreams, however, are confused and scattered. They cannot find their way through the web and are trapped there until the sun rises and evaporates them like the morning dew.

9. Originally the Indigenous Peoples dream catcher was woven on twigs of the red willow using thread from the stalk of the stinging nettle. These twigs are gathered fresh and dried in a circle or pulled into a spiral shape depending upon their intended use. They used natural feathers and semi-precious gemstone, one gemstone to each web because there is only one creator in the web of life

10. Supplies to Make a Dreamcatcher
Part 1
Part II
Supplies to Make a Dreamcatcher

11. Draw two different dream catcher designs
Draw two different dream catcher designs. Include beads, gems, stones, feathers and color ideas for the hoop and web.
Your dream catcher drawings should include the hoop, web, at least three hanging strings with a feather, at least one bead per hanging string and a holding loop.