It means something to us, it's a tradition,' said Benjamin, a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.īenjamin isn't the only American Indian dismayed by the marketing of dream catchers. These days, though, she shakes her head to see them worn as earrings, hanging from car windshields and even sold as key chains in convenience stores. When Millie Benjamin was growing up, she spent her nights sleeping under a dream catcher, a traditional Indian object believed to ward off nightmares.īenjamin drew comfort from her dream catcher. Obtained from historical documents and believed to be public domain.Though some tribal members say they see no problem with the practice, others regard the marketing of dream catchers as another example of their culture being picked apart. Lakota believe the dreamcatcher holds the destiny of their future. (Note: Some bands believe the bad ideas are caught in the web and the good ideas pass through to the individual. but the evil dreams escape through the center's hole and are no longer part of them. Good dreams are captured in the web of life and carried with them. Traditionally, it is hung above their beds or in their homes to sift their dreams and visions. Now, the Sioux use the dreamcatchers as the web of their life. The Lakota elder passed his vision on to his people. If you believe in the Great Spirit, the web will catch your good ideas, and the bad ones will go through the hole.' (Note: Some bands believe the bad ideas are caught in the web and the good ideas pass through to the individual. to reach your goals and make use of your people's ideas, dreams and visions. 'Use the web to help yourself and your people. When Iktomi finished speaking, he gave the Lakota elder the web and said, 'See, the web is a perfect circle, but there is a hole in the center of the circle.'

starting from the outside and working toward the center. He continued, 'There are many forces and different directions that can help or interfere with the harmony of nature and also with the Great Spirit and all of his wonderful teachings.'Īll while the spider spoke, he continued to weave his web.

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