Dream Catcher

Item number 1671/2 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Circular object consisting of a leather covered metal ring. There is a leather loop at the top for hanging, and two dangling strips with blue-dyed feathers at the end. String created a web-like design in the centre of the loop, threaded with seven red beads and one black one.

History Of Use

Dream catchers are hung in sleeping areas, in windows and other doorways. Good dreams pass through the center hole, while bad dreams are caught in the web. They were originally made by Plains communities. Today they are more widespread, since they have become popular as tourist art. Dream catchers are widely used as logos by many Indigenous organizations today.

Cultural Context

contemporary art; tourist art; amulets

Narrative

This dream catcher was acquired as a gift in 1995, along with a print (1671/1), during a repatriation ceremony involving a family from the Tseycum community and staff from the Museum of Anthropology.