“The dream catcher, to us, is a sacred item,” White said. “It’s lost a lot of meaning, even in our own tribe. It’s like losing our language, our culture — another symptom of a larger thing.” White acknowledges that dream catchers are an important source of money for some Indians. In many Native American tribes, a dream catcher is a handmade willow hoop woven to a web or literally, a net. They can include feathers and beads, and they're traditionally suspended on cradles as a form of armor and protection. Dream catchers can be traced back to the Ojibwes.

A STORY OF THE DREAMCATCHER

by Finder

Long ago in the days of the ancestors, some of the children of the people were having strange, frightening dreams.

As the children talked to other children, the troubling dreams spread among them like a plague.

The Legend of the Dream Catcher Long ago when the world was young, an old Lakota spiritual leader was on a high mountain and had a vision. In his vision, Iktomi, the great trickster and teacher of wisdom, appeared in the form of a spider. Iktomi spoke to him in a sacred language that only the spiritual leaders of the Lakota could understand.

The parents of the children were concerned. The people wanted their children to be happy but they didn’t know what to do.

The people went to talk to the shaman. The shaman listened patiently as the parents told him about their distress.

The shaman told the parents that he could help. But he would need to spend some time in counsel with the spirits before he would have a solution.

The shaman would have to enter the dream world to find the answer.

Upon entering the dream world the shaman was approached by the four elements: Air, Earth, Water and Fire.

Air had already heard of the parent’s concern, and had carried the message on the wind to the other elements.

All the spirits in the dream world loved the children and wanted to help return the children to their state of peaceful sleep.

The elements and the shaman dreamed together for a long time. They finally came to understand that:

Air could carry the children’s dreams.

Earth could hold the dreams within her hoop.

Water could wash and separate dreams - the wanted from the unwanted.

Fire could use the morning sun to burn up the unwanted dreams that are caught in the web.

Now all they needed was something to capture the dreams as they were carried by the air. Try as they might, the shaman and the elements could not think of a way to catch the dreams.

Grandmother Spider had been listening!

She said, 'Beautiful, loving elements, I can help you as you help me every day.' Grandmother Spider continued, 'I can weave a special web that only wanted dreams can escape down to the dreamer.'

And so she did, and the first Dreamcatcher was made.

The shaman brought the dreamcatcher with him when he made his journey back from the dream world.

All of the families of the people made dreamcatchers. The families hung them above where the children slept, in a place that was seen by the sun.

No longer were the children troubled by unwanted dreams. Instead they had happy dreams and peaceful sleep.

And so, at last, Great Spirit looked into the dreams of the children and smiled?

All of our war shields are Native American made and come with a certificate of authenticity.

Click on the thumbnails below to see the them in more detail.

14' Ceremonial Peace Shield with Pipe

This is a medium size ceremonial peace shield. It is a hoop wrapped in genuine, buckskin with two hand-made, bone tipped, crossed arrows in the middle which signify peace.

In the very center is a medicine wheel which features genuine bone hair pipes and an antler disk in its center.

In the upper left is a dream catcher that is woven by hand. Dream catchers are traditionally hung over credles or sleeping quarters of small children to filter out the bad dreams.

In the upper right is a medicine bag. Below the medicine wheel is a peace pipe wrapped in buckskin leather with some seed bead work. The pipe bowl is made of deer antler and is actually functional.

The entire piece measures about 14' in diameter and is finished with buckskin fringe with natural feathers and glass color beads.

This item is available in several colors. Select your color choice before adding item to cart.

As this item is handcrafted, no two are alike.

$130 - $145

War Shield with Dagger

This Warrior Shield is wrapped in genuine, antiqued buckskin with a bone tipped knife and sheath attached to the shield.

The knife is removable from the sheath. The handle is made of a very light wood, and the blade is carved from real bone. The entire knife, which measures approximately 12', is practically weightless.

The shield also holds a leather medicine bag, a medicine wheel, antler disks, pin feathers and horse hair.

This entire ensemble measure about 12' in diameter. This is a great shield for decor or as a gift.

$90

Friendship Shield

This is a variation of Friendship Shield which is usually given to friends which signified friendship as well as good wishes and good health to the friends family and home. It is a shield of protection.

Indian Dreamcatcher

It features a buckskin wrapped dream catcher, webbed with artificial sinew, a buckskin wrapped medicine wheel with bone hair pipes and brass beads, 2 bone tipped crossed arrows and a buckskin medicine pouch with a beaded rosette. It is finished with some pin feathers and measures about 24' tall.

$65

Ceremonial Handprint Shield

This buckskin Ceremonial handprint Shield measures 15 inches in diameter. The big red hand print in the center was the native way to say, 'I was here'.

Each shield is decorated with a turkey feather fur fan and a small dream cather. These items may vary in color.

It fetures a braided yank of sweetgrass affixed to te upper portion of the shild. Additional ties of beads and feathers finish off this shield.

$105

Ceremonial Medicine Mane Shield

This is a 14 inch Ceremonial Medicine Mane Shield. The face of the hoop is covered with buckskin and two short handmade arrows in a crossing pattern which represents peace.

Blackfoot Indian Dream Catcher Legend Poem

There are some metal socnos, feathers and fringe for decorations, and a buckskin medicine bundle.

$110

Blackfoot Indian Dream Catcher Meaning

Mini Wood Burned Shields

Here's a great idea... Mini Wood Burned Shields for many uses. Hang them with prayer ties. Use them for ornaments. Hang them alnost everywhere.

Each one is a 5 inch wooden disk with the elk, buffalo, bear or bear paw burned on the face. Genuine buckskin leather is threaded around the edges and duck pin feathers are added for decoration. It also has a leather hanging strap.

$24

Native American Indian Dreamcatcher

Large Turtle Shell Shield

A large Snapper Turtle shell shield with the turtle shell measuring nearly a foot in diameter.

The shell is decorated with glass crow beads and fitted with genuine buckskin covering and fringe, hand painted by Native American artist, Alan Romero of the Laguna people.

Indian Dreamcatcher Meaning

$00