Dream Catcher Item Number: 1671/2 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

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 They were originally made by Plains communities.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.

Item History

What

Name
Dream Catcher
Identification Number
1671/2
Type of Item
dream catcher
Material
metal, leather skin, fibre, feather and glass
Overall
height 37.0 cm, width 15.5 cm, depth 0.8 cm

Who

Culture
Coast Salish: Saanich
Previous Owner
Allison Cronin, Darrin Morrison and Elizabeth L. Johnson
Received from
Allison Cronin (Donor), Elizabeth L. Johnson (Donor) and Darrin Morrison (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
British Columbia, Canada
Collected in
Tseycum Village, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
during 1995
Ownership Date
before December 19, 1995
Acquisition Date
on December 19, 1995

Other

Condition
good
Current Location
Case 6
Accession Number
1671/0002