In the world of the Ojibwe Nation, many years ago, all the Clans were located in one general area in a place known as Turtle Island. 'Spider Woman' kept busy weaving small dream catchers to be put on the tops of cradle boards. These were to guarantee the babies a peaceful sleep. Bad dreams beacame stuck in the spider web-like weaving, unable to go any further, and the good dreams found their way through the openings to the visions of the dreamer.
With the first rays of sunlight, the bad dreams would vanish. When the Ojibwe Nation dispersed to fill a prophecy, 'Spider Woman' had a difficulty traveling to all the cradle boards. The mothers, sisters, and grandmothers took up the practice of weaving the magical webs for the babies. They used willow hoops and sinew made from plants. In honor of their origin, the number of points where the web connected to the hoop numbered 7 for the seven Prophecies or 8 for Spider Woman's eight legs.
Dream Catchers are still found in many homes, hanging over the beds of all who live there.
