Dream catchers today are available in a variety of different sizes and styles. They usually consist of a small wooden hoop covered with a net or web of natural fibers, to which meaningful sacred objects such as feathers and beads are attached, which hang from the bottom of the hoop. Real traditional and authentic dreamcatchers are handcrafted and made only from natural materials, measuring just a few small inches in diameter. The hoops are usually made of a curved red willow branch covered in stretched tendons. Wrapping the frame in leather is another common finishing touch for “real” dream catchers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayHistory of the DreamcatcherToday, the dreamcatcher is associated with Native American culture in general, but it is believed that dream catchers originated from the Ojibwa Chippewa tribe in particular. The Lakota tribe also has its own legend about the origins of the dreamcatcher, but most researchers believe dreamcatchers were passed down from the Ojibwe through intermarriage and trade. It was not until the Pan-Indian Movement of the 1960s and 1970s that they were adopted by Native Americans of several different nations. Some view the dreamcatcher as a symbol of unity between different Indian nations and a general symbol of identification with Native American or First Nations cultures. However, many other Native Americans came to view dreamcatchers as over-commercialized, offensively misappropriated, and misused by non-Native people. The Ojibwe word for dreamcatcher asabikeshiinh actually means "spider", referring to the web woven to loosely cover the hoop. The designs of the dreamcatcher are similar to the straps that these Native Americans also used to make snowshoes. Authentic symbol or cultural appropriation? Although dream catchers are quite prolific, finding real, authentic dream catchers is not that easy. Real handmade dreamcatchers are usually small and feature sacred charms like feathers and beads. However, many dream catchers for sale today are much more American than Native American, often oversized and made from cheap plastic materials. Many Native Americans still view the dreamcatcher as a symbol of unity and identification among the many cultures of Indian and First Nations nations. Yet many other Native Americans have come to view dream catchers as a symbol of cultural appropriation, over-commercialized and misappropriated and misused by non-Native people. Purpose and meaning of the dream catcher What do they do? Sometimes called "sacred hoops", Ojibwe dreamcatchers were traditionally used as talismans to protect sleeping people, usually children, from bad dreams and nightmares. Native Americans believe that the night air is filled with dreams, both good and bad. When hung above the bed in a place where morning sunlight can hit it, the dream catcher attracts and catches all kinds of dreams and thoughts in its webs. Good dreams pass and slide gently over the feathers to comfort the sleeper beneath. Bad dreams, however, are caught in its protective net and destroyed, burned in the light of day. History of the Dream Catcher Ancient legends about the history and origin of the dream catcher exist among several Native American tribes, but..