Long ago, in the world of the Ojibwe Nation, the clans were all located in a place called Turtle Island. This is the way that Ojibwe storytellers say Asibikaashi (Spider Woman) helped Wanabozhoo bring giizis (sun) back to the people. To this day, Asibikaashi will build her will build her build her special lodge before dawn. If you are awake at dawn, 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 North America, to fill a prophecy, Asibikaashi had a difficult time making her journey to all cradle boards, so the mothers, sisters and grandmothers took up the practice of weaving the magical webs for the new babies using willow hoops and sinew. It is in the shape of a circle to represent how giizis travels each day across the sky. 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 centre of each dream catcher where those good bawadjige may come through. With the first rays of sunlight, bad dreams would perish. When we see little asibikaashi, we should not fear her, but instead respect and protect her. In honour of their orgin, the number of points where the web connected to the hoop numbered 8 for Spider Woman's legs or 7 for the Seven Prophecies.
It is often tradition to put a feather in the centre 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 in 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 eagle feather is kept for courage (a man's feather).
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. It is supposed to happen and symbolizes the end of childhood. Adults should use dreamcatchers of woven fibre which is made up to reflect adult dreams. It is also customary to have dreamcatchers be in a tear-drop or snow shoe shape or to be fully beaded.
Page 1
About Me
Beading Instructions
Links
