Dreamcatchers today come in a variety of different sizes and styles. They usually consist of a small wooden circle covered in a net or net of natural fibers, with significant sacred objects such as feathers and beads attached, hanging from the bottom of the circle. True and authentic traditional dream catchers are handcrafted and made only from natural materials, measuring just a few centimeters in diameter. The hoops are usually made of a bent branch of red willow covered with taut tendons. Wrapping the frame in leather is another common finishing touch for “real” dream catchers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay History of the Dream Catcher Today the dream catcher is associated with Native American culture in general, but dream catchers are believed to have originated from the Ojibwa Chippewa tribe in particular. The Lakota tribe also has its own legend about the origins of dream catchers, but most researchers believe that dream catchers were passed down from the Ojibwe through intermarriage and trade. It wasn't until the pan-Indian movement of the 1960s and 1970s that they were adopted by Native Americans of different nations. Some consider the dream catcher to be a symbol of unity among various Indian nations and a general symbol of identification with Native American or First Nations cultures. However, many other Native Americans have come to view dream catchers as overly commercialized, offensively appropriated, and misused by non-Natives. The Ojibwe word for dreamcatcher asabikeshiinh actually means "spider", referring to the web woven to loosely cover the circle. The dream catcher patterns are similar to the webbing that these Native Americans also used to make snowshoes. Authentic symbol or cultural appropriation? Although dream catchers are quite prolific, finding authentic dream catchers is not that easy. Real handmade dream catchers are usually small in size and feature sacred charms such as feathers and beads. Many dream catchers on sale today, however, are much more American than Native American, often oversized and made of cheap plastic materials. Many Native Americans still consider the dreamcatcher to be a symbol of unity and identification among the many cultures of the Indian and First Nations nations. Yet, many other Native Americans have come to see dream catchers as an overly commercialized, offensive symbol of cultural appropriation that is offensively appropriated and abused by non-Natives. Purpose and meaning of dream catchersWhat do they do? Sometimes called "sacred circles", Ojibwe dream catchers were traditionally used as talismans to protect sleeping people, usually children, from bad dreams and nightmares. Native Americans believe that the night air is full of dreams, both good and bad. When hung above the bed in a place where the morning sunlight can hit it, the dream catcher attracts and captures all kinds of dreams and thoughts in its nets. Good dreams pass through and slide gently along the feathers to comfort the sleeper below. Bad dreams, however, are caught in its protective net and destroyed, burned in the light of day. History of the Dream Catcher Ancient legends about the history and origin of the dream catcher exist among several Native American tribes, but primarily through the Ojibwe and Lakota. nations. While many cultures consider spiders to be creepy crawlies, the Ojibwe people consider them a symbol of protection and comfort. The Ojibwe word for dream catcher..