Native American Indians

Page

Dream-Catcher

Yah'ah'tey Visitor and Welcome to my Page.


LOVING SUN

"JUST AS THE SUN WARMS THE EARCH,
LOVE WARMS OUR LIVES."
~ RED BEAR ~


 

 

First a little something to say before I continue to take you on a journey of these magical People of the Americas. I am not an American Indian , but I have been fascinated by their History, Culture, Crafts and devotion. That is why I have created this little site... It is in honour of all the indigenous people who have been put on trial for speaking their minds and also for the old and wise generations and also the NEW... Please enjoy your stay If you have any suggestions on how to make this page better please email me!

applet on this page and others throughout this site may take a while to download!

LIST

Legends Native Poems Native Blessings
Dream catchers, bead works & medicine wheel A collection of Native Poems Some words to live by
Little Indian Stories Myths, Ceremonies & Legends Wolves Page
Stories from a few tribes A few collected references from the web Dedicated to this wonderful creature
Christmas Page Palace Home Indian Poems

Legends

Dream Catcher Legend

DREAMS HAVE ALWAYS HAD MANY MEANINGS TO THE INDIANS. ONE OF THE OLD OJIBWA TRADITIONS WAS TO HANG A DREAM CATCHER IN THEIR HOME. THEY BELIEVE THAT THE NIGHT AIR IS FILLED WITH DREAMS, BOTH BAD AND GOOD.  THE DREAM CATCHER, WHEN HUNG, MOVES FREELY IN THE AIR AND CATCHES THE DREAMS AS THEY FLOAT BY. WITH THE GUIDANCE OF THE SPIRIT BEAD, THE GOOD DREAMS ARE ALLOWED PASSAGE THROUGH THE CENTER OPENING, THEN SLIDE DOWN OFF THE SOFT FEATHER SO GENTLY THAT MANY TIMES THE SLEEPER BELOW DOESN'T KNOW HE IS DREAMING.

THE BAD DREAMS, WITHOUT GUIDANCE FROM THE SPIRIT BEAD, BECOME TANGLED IN THE WEBBING AND PERISH WITH THE FIRST LIGHT OF DAY. SMALL DREAM CATCHERS WERE HUNG ON CRADLE BOARDS SO INFANTS WOULD HAVE GOOD DREAMS.  LARGER  SIZES WERE HUNG IN LODGES FOR ALL TO HAVE GOOD DREAMS


Medicine Wheels

A NATIVE AMERICAN MEDICINE WHEEL IS LIKE CARRYING THE WORLD IN YOUR POCKET.  EVERYTHING ON A MEDICINE WHEEL SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE WORLD AND HOW HUMANS LIVE IN IT. A MEDICINE WHEEL IS SHAPED LIKE A DREAM CATCHER WITH A HANDLE.  IT STARTS WITH A PIECE OF TWIG FORMED INTO A CIRCLE.  THE CIRCLE REPRESENTS LIFE, WHICH NEVER ENDS.  NATIVE AMERICANS ARE BORN, GROW UP, REACH ADULTHOOD, BECOME OLD, AND THEN ARE "BORN" INTO THE SPIRIT WORLD WHEN THEY DIE ON EARTH.

INSIDE THE CIRCLE ARE TWO STRAIGHT STICKS TIED TOGETHER IN A CROSS.  THESE STRAIGHT STICKS CUT THE MEDICINE WHEEL CIRCLE INTO FOUR QUARTERS, LIKE A PIZZA WITH FOUR SLICES.  THE STICK PIECES REPRESENT THE FOUR DIRECTIONS: NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST.  THEY ALSO REPRESENT THE FOUR SEASONS: WINTER, SUMMER, SPRING, AND FALL.  PLUS, EACH STICK PIECE HAS A COLORED BEAD ATTACHED TO IT.  THESE COLORS MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS, AS WELL. THE PIECE OF TWIG POINTING UP STANDS FOR "NORTH."  IT REPRESENTS WINTER.  THE BEAD ON THIS TWIG IS WHITE, FOR SNOW. 

THE PIECE OF TWIG POINTING DOWN STANDS FOR "SOUTH."  IT REPRESENTS SUMMER.  THE BEAD ON THIS TWIG IS GREEN, THE COLOR OR GROWING THINGS. THE PIECE OF TWIG ON THE LEFT STANDS FOR "EAST."  IT REPRESENTS SPRING, THE BEGINNING OF THINGS.  THE BEAD ON THIS TWIG IS RED.  RED IS THE COLOR OF THE SUN WHEN IT RISES FROM THE EAST EVERY MORNING AND BEGINS THE DAY.

THE PIECE OF TWIG ON THE RIGHT STANDS FOR "WEST."  IT REPRESENTS FALL.  FALL IS THE HARVEST SEASON, WHEN GROWING THINGS ARE CUT DOWN AND STORED FOR THE WINTER. THE BEAD ON THIS TWIG IS BLACK.  THAT IS THE COLOR OF NIGHTFALL  AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN WORK IS OVER. WHEN THE BASIC MEDICINE WHEEL HAS BEEN MADE, EACH OWNER PUTS SMALL THINGS ON THE WHEEL THAT ARE IMPORTANT.  IF HE OR SHE IS FROM A CERTAIN CLAN  ~   SAY, THE BEAR CLAN  ~  THAT PERSON MIGHT WANT A BIT OF BEAR FUR  ATTACHED TO THEIR WHEEL.  IF A PERSON HAS HAD A DREAM OF BEING GUIDED BY THE SPIRIT OF THE EAGLE, THEN AN EAGLE FEATHER MIGHT DANGLE FROM THEIR MEDICINE WHEEL.  IN THIS WAY, MEDICINE WHEELS BECOME AS DIFFERENT AS THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THEM


Bead Work

MOST NATIVE AMERICAN NATIONS HAVE MADE JEWELRY AND ALSO DECORATED EVERYDAY OBJECTS WITH BEADS.  MANY NATIONS STILL DO. BEADS ARE MADE INTO BEAUTIFUL NECKLACES, EARRINGS, AND OTHER ORNAMENTS.  THEY ARE ALSO SEWN ONTO MOCCASINS, CLOTHING, CARRYING BAGS, QUIVERS, AND EVEN SOME BASKETS! IN ANCIENT TIMES, NATIVE AMERICANS MADE BEADS FROM SHELLS, STONES, BONES, AND EVEN POTTERY.  BUT MOST BEADS WERE MADE FROM DIFFERENT- COLORED SHELLS.

HOW WERE SHELL BEADS MADE?  FIRST A SHELL WAS BROKEN DOWN INTO SMALL PIECES.  THEN THE BEAD MAKER PUT A HANDHELD DRILL ON EACH PIECE.  THE BEAD MAKER RUBBED THE DRILL RAPIDLY BETWEEN HIS OR HER PALMS.  THIS WAS HOW A HOLE WAS DRILLED INTO EACH SMALL SHELL PIECE. WHEN SEVERAL SHELL PIECES HAD BEEN DRILLED, THEY WOULD BE PUT ON A STRING.  THEN THE BEAD MAKER WOULD GRIND THE OUTSIDES OF THESE SHELL PIECES INTO ROUND SHAPES.

BEADS USED TO BE STRUNG ON TWINE MADE FROM PLANTS, OR ON STRING MADE FROM ANIMAL SINEWS.  NOW BEADS ARE STRUNG ON COMMERCIAL THREAD. BEADS AND BEAD SHELLS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TRADED AMONG DIFFERENT NATIVE AMERICAN NATIONS.  NATIONS THAT LIVED ON THE EAST OR WEST COASTS WOULD TRADE WITH INLAND TRIBES. WHEN EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS FOUND THIS OUT, THEY LEARNED TO MAKE BEADS.  THEY TRADED THOSE BEADS, AND ALSO GLASS BEADS FROM EUROPE, FOR THINGS THAT THEY NEEDED FROM NATIVE AMERICANS!

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Visit SilverHawks Site for beautiful graphics, like the ones used on this page. http://www.redrival.com/samsilverhawk
and also for fabulous Background sets. Please also check out "Zena's Dreams"

Webpage created on: November 13, 1999

Last Updated: Sunday, September 24, 2000 11:29 PM

Helki's Palace of Dreams
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