Native American Legends
We've included some information on popular Native American legends and facts: Dream Catcher, Turtle Island, Kokopelli plus How to Make a DreamCatcher and the uses of Sage and Sweetgrass. Check out the recently added information on the History of the Native American Rattle.
Native American Dream Catcher Legend
It is said that the night air is filled with both good dreams and bad dreams.
The dream catcher, when
hung, moves freely in the air and catches the dreams as they float by. The
loop, its center woven in a
web-like pattern, allows the good dreams to pass through the web into the sleeper
but makes the bad
dreams become entangled in the web, where they perish at the first light of
dawn. Small dream catchers
were hung on cradle boards so infants would have good dreams. Other sizes were
hung in lodges for
all to have good dreams. Hang them in your lodge or home and HAPPY DREAMS!
How to make a Dream Catcher- instructions and contents included in the dream catcher kits we sell:
Contents needed: Ring (2-6 inches), Hide Strip (20-40 inches), Hide Tie (10-24 inches), Sinew, Large Cones (4), Small bead (1), Feathers (8)
1. Take a strip of hide and glue one end to the ring. Begin wrapping ring. When you reach the beginning piece of hide, overlap ends and glue. Cut off excess hide. The excess will make your hanger and bottom ties.
2. Making the web: Tie end of sinew to top center of wrapped ring. Tie half-hitches in evenly spaced intervals (about 1 inch apart). Make sure to keep the sinew tight all the time. It should make 12 loops. Start the second row by making a half-hitch in the center of the 1" loop on full rounds. (On about round four add your bead).
2" diameter loop= 10 points
4" diameter loop= 12 points
6" diameter loop= 16 points
3. Pull sinew firmly to tighten web. Tie off tightly with several half-hitches in the last loop. Cut off excess thread.
4. Take some of the remaining hide and make a lark's head knot at the bottom of the Dream Catcher. Cut the strips in two leaving you four ties. Put two (one) cone(s) per tie then glue in feathers.
5. Take remaining hide and tie at top of Dream Catcher for hanger. You have completed your Dream Catcher!
Turtle Island Legend
Legend tells that after the “Great Flood” the New Earth was re-built
on the turtle’s back using earth that
only the muskrat could gather from the bottom of the remaining floodwaters.
In many North American
regions our “New Earth” is traditionally referred to as “Turtle
Island” in memory of this legend.
The Many Uses of Sage
Used by Native Americans for thousands of years in spiritual ceremonies & for
physical, spiritual, &
mental healing. USES: Burning- used to purify people, places & things;
takes away negative energy.
External Use: (Physical Healing) stops bleeding, heals and cleans sores, hair
tonic, hair growth,
washing of hair and feet; removes body toxins. Internal Use: (as a tea) soothes
stomach pain, gas &
bowel troubles, expels worms, good for liver & kidneys, nervous disorders,
fevers, pneumonia, head
aches, gives strong circulation, increases sexual desire. Other Uses: (spiritual & mental)
removes
curses as used by spiritual mentors, can be put under ones pillow at night
to take away bad dreams.
Many Native American tribes used sweetgrass in prayer, smudging or purifying ceremonies and consider it a sacred plant. It is usually braided, dried and burned. Sweetgrass braids smolder and don't produce an open flame when burned. Just as the sweet scent of this natural grass is attractive and pleasing to people, so is it attractive to good spirits. Sweetgrass is often burned at the beginning of a prayer or ceremony to attract positive energies.
Kokopelli
A mythical character dating back to ancient times. He is also known as the humpbacked flute player. Kokopelli is many things: magician, teacher, Storyteller, healer, trickster and brings with him Fertility (to all living things) and good fortune. As legend has it, he was known to travel up from Mexico visiting many Southwestern Indian communities, spreading news, music and happiness. - Tiisyato Native Arts
History of the Native American Rattle
The history of the Native American rattle featured here refers to background information provided by Gary Buckman, Lakota artist and based solely on his experience. There are two different types of rattles made and used in the Lakota tradition. Most rattles were used in Medicine or spiritual ceremonies. These rattles were mostly made up of all natural materials with the main end consisting of a buffalo scrotum filled with beans or corn. Metal was not allowed to be used because it was believed this would cancel any special gifts or medicine to be used in the lodge or in ceremony. Because these rattles are considered sacred spiritual objects, many artists like Gary use rawhide in place of buffalo scrotum for the end piece because it can be shaped to resemble the tradition materials used.
Dance rattles were created and used differently. These rattles were meant to be used at pow-wows and for other dances. The components and shapes of these rattles were quite different, often using other animal parts as well as man made items like cones and metal to create a louder sound. Dance rattles were often shaped like Coup sticks with something sharp or hard at the end such as bone.
In Lakota tradition, Turtle Rattles were made with the entire turtle at the end. The Turtle Rattles Gary makes uses shells only, again to protect the sacred meaning behind those used long ago.
**The information contained in the above article is based solely on the life and experiences of Gary Buckman, Lakota Oglala. We do not claim this information to be representative of the Lakota tribe or its members.
The information listed above comes from some of the Native American and First Nation companies and artists we buy from. Please note that different tribes practice different beliefs and ceremonies or may have different versions of legends. We have listed the version most commonly communicated to us.