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I. Introduction:
such as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung have tried to interpret dreams as well as
subconscious thoughts. This has led to theories and large quantities of written
analysis.
b. Reason to Listen: However, they are not the first to investigate this subject. Native
Americans believe that dreams influence the conscious soul of the dreamer and often
loyalty.
c. Thesis Statement: Today I will inform the audience about dream catchers.
d. Credibility Statement: I have read several articles about the history of dream
catchers and how they have developed into some modern-day cultures.
1. I will start by discussing the legends of how the legends of the dream catcher
2. Then, I will discuss the variations of the original dream catcher and the
3. Finally, I will discuss the use of dream catchers in modern day culture.
Kathleen Windsor
Informative Speech Outline
COM 1650 - Professor Stevens
The Body:
First, I’d like to share the legends behind the creation of the dream catcher. There are two legends
from separate Native American tribes on their belief and use of the dream catcher.
A. The Ojibwe tribe which is also called the Chippewa tribe in the United States has passed
1. According to The New World Encyclopedia, the dream catcher was created
grandmothers to weave magical webs for new babies. They used dream
catchers so that only pleasant dreams would enter the mind of the babies as
they slept.
2. The Ojibwe believe that the dream catcher collects the bad dreams within the
web and those bad dreams are then burned away in the morning sun. As for the
good dreams, they are guided by the small hole in the center of the dream catcher
1. According to the New World Encyclopedia, the Lakota tells a story of an elder
man who had a vision on a mountaintop. Iktomi, the great teacher, appeared as a
spider and as he spoke to the elder man, he spun a web on a hoop of feathers,
horse hairs, and beads. Iktomi was speaking to the elder man about the cycles of
life. Once the dream catcher was complete Iktomi explained how belief in the
Great Spirit would allow the hoop to catch good dreams and let the bad dreams
was plagued with bad dreams; in his effort to get well he slept with the Medicine
Wheel. One night a spider spun a web within the wheel and an owl flew above
the wheel that same night and shed a feather that became caught in the web,
hanging from the center hole. The following morning, the Shaman awoke from a
peaceful night’s sleep which was free of bad dreams. His illness was gone, and
he felt that the medicine wheel must have been the explanation.
3. The Lakota believe that dream catchers collect the good dreams in the web and
will be carried with the owner of the dream catcher for their entire day. The bad
dreams are passed through the hole in the middle to remain harmless to the owner
Transition: Now that I’ve explained the origin of the dream catcher, I’d like to explain the variations in
the design of the dream catcher from the original style to modern day styles.
multiple parts; each part means something different to create the complete art
piece. The circle of the hoop, which is usually made from willow twigs or
bendable wood, represents the sun and the web is connected by eight hoops to
represent the legs of Spider Woman. If the web is connected by seven hoops it
represents the Seven Prophecies, the feathers represent spirit and life.
the Native American Vault the hoop served as the frame for the web and
Kathleen Windsor
Informative Speech Outline
COM 1650 - Professor Stevens
represented the circle of life. The web that resembled a spider’s web catches bad
dreams or as the Lakota believed, the good dreams were caught in the web.
Finally, the feathers held multiple purposes as they hang from the hoop. Many
cultures believed that the feathers are the guide for the good dreams to the
dreamer’s mind.
1. Modern weave patterns include stars, loops, or other decorative patterns, not
just the spider web weave design. The spider design is now uncommon in
modernized dream catchers. The use of feathers and beads is still common,
catchers.
2.
2. Over the years a few additional items have been added to the dream catcher. A
single bead represents the spider that made the web, but many beads represent the
good dreams that are trapped during the night. Gem stones have replaced the
symbolism that feathers once held and arrowheads increase the strength and
protection that the dreamcatcher has. Certain colors used also have a meaning,
bright colors such as silver and gold attract and take away bad dreams; yellow
represents the sun, as blue represents the river; green represents grass and red
Transition: Now that I have discussed the variations in the design of the dream catchers, I will talk
Americans came first to appreciate Native spiritual traditions and then to see in
them something that was conspicuously lacking in the mainstream culture” stated
“some Native American individuals and groups feel that the commercialization
2. Today, most dream catchers are found hanging in places other than a child’s
cradle as initially designed for. They are hung in living rooms or from the
tradition, others consider them a symbol of native unity, and still others think of
Conclusion:
2. Then, the variations between the original dream catcher and modern dream catcher
c. Closure: In conclusion, The Native American Vault states that “the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of
1990 prohibits manufacturers from suggesting that their products are Native American made
Kathleen Windsor
Informative Speech Outline
COM 1650 - Professor Stevens
unless the manufacturer is a member of any federally or state recognized Indian tribe or certified
as an Indian artisan by an Indian tribe”. If you want to get an authentic dream catcher, the
package will state the tribe that allow you to know where it came from. Dream catchers began as
a spiritual object within the Native American culture of two tribe but have rapidly developed into
a commercialized mass-marketed object with a wide range of uses. A dream catcher can be used
in a spiritual manner, to represent the historical aspect such as in museums or just as decoration in
your home. It’s up to you how you how you use this historical art piece.
Kathleen Windsor
Informative Speech Outline
COM 1650 - Professor Stevens
References
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Dreamcatcher
Jenkins, P. (2006). Dream catchers: How mainstream America discovered native spirituality.
NativeAmericanVault.com. (n.d.). Legend of the Dreamcatcher. Retrieved March 18, 2019, from
https://www.nativeamericanvault.com/pages/legend-of-the-dreamcatcher
Oberholtzer, C. (2017). Dream catchers - legend, lore and artifacts. Firefly Books.