Omaka Teca! Happy New Year!
It’s been awhile since you last heard from us. Several severe storms have hit Pine Ridge and while we are used to all that winter brings, there is always a challenge to deal with what it does for driving around here.
In the next few weeks we will highlight some Lakota Red Nations specialty crafts explaining why and how we make them. We make things inspired by our history and tradition reflected in objects that were once used everyday; cradle boards, moccasins, drums, and medicine pouches to name a few. By recreating these items we bring something of the past into today’s world.
How do we do this? Throughout the year Kelly and Suzie select for the raw materials that will be used; buffalo and elk raw hide, cherry, and willow wood, paints, beads, quill and more. Many of these materials can be sourced locally. As we prepare the materials, we visualize what it will look like when it is finished. Many items are patterned after prototypes we have spend many years perfecting. But we always incorporate something new; a different color, size or design for example.
Take for an example our uniquely designed wo unhabli -dream catcher. People of the Ojibwa Nation first made dream catchers. The custom spread to neighboring nations including the Lakota. Now they come in all different sizes, shapes and material. Typically dream catchers are made with a single hoop. Kelly’s design uses three hoops. Two hoops are joined at the top. Supporting the two hoops is a third, usually painted or beaded with the colors of the Lakota sacred hoop, red, yellow, white or black. One web is woven to bind the three hoops together.
Dream catchers serve as a reminder to keep away from negative thoughts. They also remind us to work at turning our good dreams for the future into reality. We often hope of peace in the world. Kelly’s design fuses all of of these intentions together, letting go of the negative of the past, welcoming the positive of the New Year as well as each new day and hoping for peace in the world. Contact us to learn more about dream catchers or to order one for your home.
