In some Native American cultures, a dreamcatcher (or dream catcher; Lakota: iháŋbla gmunka, Ojibwe: asabikeshiinh, the inanimate form of the word for “spider” or Ojibwe: bawaajige nagwaagan meaning “dream snare”) is a handmade object based on a willow hoop, on which is woven a loose net or web. The dreamcatcher is then decorated with sacred items such as feathers and beads. The dreamcatcher was adopted by other north american tribes over time.

This “Dream Catcher” was inspired by a trip to Cherokee. I tried to find a real native hand made piece of art. Problem resides is Native Americans have come to see dreamcatchers as over-commercialized, offensively misappropriated, mass produced in other countries and misused by non-Natives. I asked around at several shops until someone pointed me to the shop of a true Cherokee traditional artisan. Amazing work and form of expression with tradition. I purchased two amazing works from him, one for each stepdaughter. I asked the artist many questions as we talked about an hour. We both agreed that “Creating something from the environment around you, whether a weapon or blanket is the purist form of art”.

The Dream Catcher I made above is in the tradition of our conversation. The stick is from a tree that I planted and grew, the feathers are from our backyard quail, the stones I found then polished, the bead was in a box of old buttons, there is another carved piece of local stick and the hemp twine has been in my tool box forever. I soaked the stick until flexible then, formed it into a circle. After drying, I wound the twine around the entire circumference of the stick. The entire length of the twine is unbroken.