Ancient Legend, Modern Art: The Dream Catcher

The weaving craft of the spider and the related mythologyof the dream catcher are found in several Canadian First Nations traditions. According to Ojibwe custom, mothers and grandmothers weave dream catchers for their children in appreciation for Asibikaashi (SpiderWoman), who helps to bring the sun of a new day to her people. The dream catcher, which imitates the intricate weaving of a spider's web within a willow hoop, functions to catch bad dreams and thoughts while letting good dreams pass through the hole at the web's centre. The good dreams then slides down the dangling feathers at the hoop's base and into the mind of the dreamer. The bad dreams, trapped in the web, evaporate with the first light of dawn. In addition to feathers, traditional dream catchers are decorated with sacred items and items symbolic of personal power, including handmade beads and arrowheads.While the precise origins of the dream catcher legend are difficult to pinpoint, the image of the dream catcher has become for some North American first peoples an iconic identifying symbol of First Nations culture.

This coin is the first issue of the First Nations Art collection.
The first coin of the series, released in 2013, depicts the Dreamcatcher.
The second coin of the series, released in 2014, depicts the Salmon.
The third and the last coin of the series, released in 2015, depicts the story Mother feeding baby.

FIRST NATIONS ART - DREAMCATCHER - 2013 CANADIAN COINS 01 is categorised COINS AND PAPER MONEY / 08- ROYAL CANADIAN MINT / 02- FINE SILVER and sold by l'Imaginaire, a store and specialised website.