By the 1980s, dreamcatchers had become popular souvenirs for non-native people. During this era, dreamcatchers became widely used by other tribes. The Pan-Indian movement of the 1960s and 70s promoted unity among Native Americans. Most anthropologists and historians believe that dreamcatchers originated with the Ojibwe. Dreamcatchers were most likely introduced to other tribes as the Ojibwe spread out geographically and traded with other tribes. He returned the hoop to the spiritual leader, telling him that the bad forces will be caught in the web and the good forces will pass through. When he finished, there was a hole in the center of the web. He advised the Lakota man to let the good forces guide him without being deceived by the bad forces.Īs Iktomi spoke, he took the spiritual leader’s willow hoop and spun a web inside of it, starting on the outside and working his way in. Iktomi told this leader about the circle of life and explained that there are both good and bad forces in the world. This tribe’s story involves Iktomi, a teacher who took the form of a spider and spoke with a Lakota spiritual leader. The Lakota have a slightly different origin story. Then, the mothers in the tribe followed suit and wove dreamcatchers for their children, and the craft became commonplace for the Ojibwe tribe.

To offer them protection while they were far away, she gave her people dreamcatchers to stop their bad dreams. The Ojibwe viewed spiders as symbols of protection, so the Spider Woman acted as the custodian and protector of the people in the tribe. She is credited with bringing weaving to the people.Īs the Ojibwe people started to spread across North America, Spider Woman struggled to take care of them.

According to legend, dreamcatchers were created by Asibaikaashi, who was also called the Spider Woman. Ojibwe Legendĭreamcatchers originated with the Ojibwe tribe as a protective measure against nightmares. Learning about the item helps us respect and appreciate Native culture. If you’re interested in dreamcatchers, it’s important that you understand their history and symbolism. Like many crafts, dreamcatchers have a rich and fascinating backstory. Many people love dreamcatchers as decorations, but few know the history and meaning behind the item. Dreamcatchers are one of the most well-known Native American symbols.

Origins of dream catchers