Do you know this object that catches nightmares? It is a dream catcher, a tradition among indigenous peoples, notably the Abenaki, the Huron-Wendat, the Mi’kmaq and the Ojibwe. I discussed its meaning with Audrey Renaud, who works at the native house of Mont-Saint-Hilaire. It is a place whose mission is to raise awareness of the different cultures of the First Nations. She answered my questions about this fascinating object!
Where do dream catchers come from?
Every nation has a different history. I’ll tell you one: a grandmother observed a spider weaving its web every day. One day his grandson came into the house. Seeing the web, he wanted to destroy it and chase the spider away. Just before he did it, the grandmother stopped him and said, “Don’t do that!” This spider is my friend. I want you to leave her alone. »
Grateful, the spider came out of its hiding place to thank the grandmother for protecting it. She took a branch and, turning it quickly between her legs, she weaved a web inside this circle. She added marbles and feathers. She gave this gift to the grandmother, saying: “Put this at the head of your bed. From now on, all your bad dreams will be caught in the web. The beautiful dreams will pass through the mesh, slide over the feathers and reach your ear. »
Where should you place the dream catcher?
In our bedroom, towards the head of the bed. Besides, before, our houses did not have windows. So, in the morning, we took it out so that the first rays of the sun could burn away the bad dreams.
Where can you buy a dream catcher?
It is important to be careful when you want to buy a dream catcher. Today, you can find them almost everywhere that are made in China. But these dreamcatchers do not have the same history as those made by indigenous artisans.
If you want to buy a dream catcher, look for the “Bear Footprint” symbol. Created in 2021, this logo identifies products made by indigenous artisans. This way, you support their work and you will have an authentic dream catcher full of tradition!
Mina Dromard, intern journalist at As de l’info
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