Smoke Signals
January 1993
Page 10
The 0 jib we
Dream Catcher
The Annishnabe or Ojibwe people, also known in
Wisconsin as the Chippewa, are known for their powers of
dreaming. They also have been referred to by other tribes as
dreamers and have a religion called the Dream Dance and
their practitioners are referred to as Dream Dancers. A very
old and uniquely Ojibwe item has been created called the
dream catcher. It is said to be thousands of years old. It helps
Ojibwe and other American Indian people deal with life
through all types of dreams. It's construction and philosophy
is unique and the maker puts thoughts of protection and live
for family and friends into this product.
The dream catcher is usually made of wood bent
into a circle, then tied with sinew or buckskin. But anything
can be used to tie the wood. The circle is then laced in a
particular manner unique to the maker. The center is left
open. The dream catcher swings freely in the air and catches
dreams as they float by. Some range from a few inches in
diameter to many feet across. Some are used for decorations
in the home and have elaborate scenes on them. Dream
catchers are usually tied to cradle boards or in the child's
bedroom.
Ojibwe people believe the night is filled with dreams.
Good dreams are thought to be perfect and precise and will
only pass through similar types of openings. Ojibwe people
believe that dreams, both good and bad, can occur at any
time. The good dreams have a special relationship with
Ojibwe people and a long time ago communicated to the
dreamer ways to protect the people who wanted to use good
dreams to better themselves and their communities. Dreams
educated the dreamer about the future , how to lead a good
life, what names to give to Indian people, etc. Good dreams
informed the Ojibwe how to construct the dream catcher.
Thus, the good dreams are able to enter through the center
hole to the dreamer on the other side.
Most dreams come at night when people are sleeping.
Bad dreams are thus associated with darkness and night. The
bad dreams, not knowing the way, having odd shapes, and
being imperfect become entagled in the web an will perish
upon the approaching light of a new day.
-Taken from Native Monthly Reader, by Kiana Beaudin
and John Beaudin
The American Indian Horse
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The history of the
American Indian Horse is a
long and colorful one. It is
generally agreed by
historians that Spanish
brought the horse to the New
World in the 1500s.
The horses were a
mixture of Barb, Arabian,
and Andulusian blood and
were considered the best
horse in the world at the time.
The horse was
indispensable to the conquest
ofMexicobyCortez. Indians
of that era had never seen
horses and to them the horse
and the rider team were
godlike. To try and keep this
belief, it was illegal for some
years for an Indian to ride a
horse, much less own one.
However, in time, with the
spread of the horse and the
Spanish ranchos, the Indian did acquire this "big dog" or
"God dog" for their own. The acquisition of the horse
completely changes the Plains Indians' way of life,
transforming them from plodding pedestrians to nomadic
hunters and warriors. The horse brought about a culture
totally dependent upon themselves.
Before the coming of the horse, the Indian tribes
had used dogs for carrying small portable shelters; after the
horse arrived the shelters became large decorative tipis.
Hunting took on a different form also. Before the horse the
primary way of hunting was to run a herd of game over a cliff.
After the arrival of the horse the Indians could hunt from
horseback choosing only the most desirable targets for their
prey.
Horse stealingbctween the Tribes became thePIains'
number one sport and was considered an honored way for a
young warrior to gain experience and fame. Horses meant
wealth to the Plains tribes and were used for barter and gifts
extensively.
Many religious ceremonies were based on the horse
and its contribution to the life of the Indian. One of the most
interesting was the horse medicine cult practiced by most
Plains tribes. The Oglala Lakota tribe has an elaborate horse
medicine cult that included a dance imitation of horses. The
Oglala useahorse medicine to influence the outcome of horse
races, to cuiv sick and wounded horses, to calm a fractious
horse, and t make brood-mares have fine foals. . Horse
medicine meland women were among the most respected
members of til Plains tribes.
One oVhe most colorful episodes in the long career
of the Indian Horse was gathering of the millions of wild
Longhorn cattle (If the Texas reanges after the War between
the States. They Ivam every river from Texas to Canada,
enduring stampers, tornadoes, hailstorms, and freezing
blizzards. They ditto all foraging grass and brush without
grain, and they camwthrough it ready for more. And most
of them weren't mueffiarger than the Longhorns they drove.
The U.S. Cafelry found, in it's attempt to conquer
the Indian , that the cWy way to effectively control these
people was to take theiiVnorses away from them. Repeated
instances of complete issacre of Indian horse herds is
documented evidcnce--ntte testimony to the toughness of
this breed.
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They were better than anything the Cavalry could
put up against them.
The Indian horse has contributed to the making of
a number of American breeds: the Morgan, the Quarter
Horse; the Saddlebred, the Tennessee Walking Horse, and
more. Most of the Colour breeds trace their ancestry back to
the Indian Horse-the Pain, Palomino, the Appaloosa, and
the Buckskin to name some.
Frederic Remington artist and writer, said of the
horse in 1888 (HORSES OF THE PLAINS, Century
Magazine) "One thing is certain; of all the monuments the
Spaniard has left to glorify his reign in America, there will
be none more worthy than his horses.. .the Spaniard's horses
may be found today in countless thousands, from the city of
the Montezumas to the regions of perpetual snow; they are
grafted into our equine wealth and make an important
impression on the horse of the country. They have borne the
Moor, the Spanish conqueror, the Indian, the Mountain
Man, and the vaquero through all the glories of their
careers."
American Indian Horse Registry, reprinted from "Twin
Light Trails"
2
Cultural Class Reminder
Just a reminder that the Community Cultural Class
for January will feature Oral Tradition. Classes are from 10
A.M. to 2 P.M. on January 9 and January 16, at the Tribal
Community Center.