A Dream Catcher Workshop was held on Monday evening at our shelter and it was a fun event for all!   Dream catchers made of twigs, sinew, feathers and gemstones have been woven since ancient times by Native people, specifically the Ojibwa. They were woven by grandfathers and grandmothers for newborn children and hung above the cradleboard to give the infants peaceful, beautiful dreams.  Twigs used for dream catchers are gathered fresh and dried in a circle or pulled into a spiral shape depending upon their intended use.

(Items used for making Dream Catchers)

The Native people believe that the night air is filled with dreams both good and bad. The dream catcher when hung over or near your bed swinging freely in the air, catches the dreams as they flow by. The good dreams know how to pass through the dream catcher, slipping through the outer holes and sliding down the soft feathers so gently that many times the sleeper does not know that he/she is dreaming. The bad dreams not knowing their way, get tangled in the dream catcher and perish with the first light of the new day.

Here is what the women had to say about participating in the workshop:

“I was very happy that I was able to make a dream-catcher. I have always wonder how they were made. Now that I know how they are made, I cannot tell my friends what I have learned.”

“I had a very wonderful time making the dream-catcher’s. Joanna is a very good teacher and she takes the time to show the ladies how to do the work. For myself, it was very relaxing and I got to see how creative I can be only the time flew by too fast, it was too short. Thanks Joanna.”

“I enjoyed all the classes and have had a great time learning and spending time with friends.”