November 3, 2021

when i was 13

i determined that pina colada was the most underrated lollipop flavor

and i constructed my first dream catcher from string

Despite my sheer tenacity and dedication to my first dream catcher, which I wove intricately with beige twine, my 13 year-old self knew absolutely nothing of its historical and mythological significance. Essentially, I was idly passing spare time by experimenting with arts and crafts. It was not until now that I could fully understand the meaning behind such seemingly commonplace decorations. In other words, from understanding the origins of an object, I can foster a more personalized connection with it. And, as I delved into further research, I began to notice a debate happening between online writers encircling one question: are dream catchers a form of cultural appropriation? 

First, before I delve in, Oxford English Dictionary defines cultural appropriation as the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the practices, customs, or aesthetics of one social or ethnic group by members of another (typically dominant) community or society.”

Since I personally have little knowledge about the historical culture and traditions of Native Americans, I have no means of answering this question, other than what I discovered through online inquiry. According to Daniel Pierce’s “Dream Catcher (Cultural Appropriation),” some individuals with Native American backgrounds feel that dream catchers are indeed a form of cultural appropriation, while others argue that a person can be respectful of the cultural significance of dream catchers while still participating in the craft. What exactly this respect entails depends on your point of view. Some suggest that, so long as you create dream catchers while being mindful and informed of the cultural history and meaning behind them, you are showing that respect; others, however, argue that cultural traditions are meant to remain amongst those who are actively part of the culture. 

As a result of my findings, I have begun educating myself on the history of the dream catcher, and I will now share with you what I have learned. Dream catchers originated in the Ojibwe Nation in North America. There, they lived on Turtle Island and were protected by Spider Woman, who guided Grandfather Sun back to the people each morning (“Ojibwe Dreamcatcher Legend”). However, the Ojibwe eventually dispersed across the continent, making it difficult for Spider Woman to watch over all of the people. The women of the Ojibwe Nation began weaving “magical webs for the new babies using willow hoops and sinew” (“Ojibwe Dreamcatcher Legend”) to help Spider Woman protect the growing tribe.

when i was 13

lollipop in hand

i set out to make my dream catcher

wrapping twine around some sort of unauthentic circular material

i learned to form the inner spider web of string

and i incorporated pastel beads and feathers

It seems that the vast majority of dream catchers that are sold today are inauthentic, as was the one that my younger self attempted to make. However, the criteria to create a real dream catcher is substantially more specific and significant (Benz). 

A dream catcher must be made of willow wood and shaped into a circle, in order to represent the journey of Grandfather Sun across the sky. The string web should connect to the hoop at eight points to reflect the eight legs of a spider. Commonly, individuals assembling the dream catcher will place a feather in the center of the web as a symbol of breath (“Ojibwe Dreamcatcher Legend”). Traditionally, a maternal figure would make a dream catcher to protect her children from evil and bad dreams while they are asleep. Thus, lastly, a dream catcher must be created by a maternal figure with that good intent, in order to be considered authentic (Benz). 

when i was 13

i created my dream catcher in hopes that it would trap the bad dreams within

and terrorize the night terrors

until morning would arrive

and vanquish the evil with golden rays of light

The purpose of a dream catcher is to capture the bad dreams within its web. Thus, through a centralized location with direct sunlight, the light can vanquish the evil dreams in the morning. The feathers and beads hanging down from the wooden circle, however, allow the good dreams to trickle down into the mind of the sleeper (Benz). 

when i was 13

and even presently

i always remember my dreams,

oftentimes causing me to confuse them for memories

so I fashioned my dream catcher

and believed that it would 

allow only the good dreams, 

maybe of those pina colada lollipops,

to cascade down the strings and into my awaiting mind

Works Cited

Benz, Camille. “What the Dream Catcher Actually Means and Why It's Not a ‘Cute 

Decoration.’” The Femme Oasis, The Femme Oasis, 25 Sept. 2018, 

https://www.thefemmeoasis.com/mysticism/what-the-dream-catcher-actually-means-and-why-its-not-a-cute-decoration.

“Ojibwe Dreamcatcher Legend.” We R Native, 6 Apr. 2021, 

https://www.wernative.org/articles/ojibwe-dreamcatcher-legend.

Pierce, Daniel, et al. “Dream Catcher (Cultural Appropriation).” Native News Network, 

https://nativenewsnetwork.posthaven.com/dream-catchcer-cultural-appropriation.

Home: Oxford English Dictionary, https://www.oed.com/.