There are a few legends which lie behind Dream Catchers, but here are two of the most commonly quoted. The first legend is the one more traditionally associated with Dream Catchers and is a story of great kindness and reward.
NOKOMIS
A spider was quietly spinning his web in the space beside the sleeping area of Nokomis, the Grandmother. Each day Nokomis watched with great wonder as the spider continued to work on his intricate design. One day, whilst Nokomis watched the spider at his labour, her young Grandson ran in. Glancing at the spider, the young boy removed his footwear and made to strike the spider and destroy his web. "No, Keegwa", the old lady whispered, "do not hurt him!" "Grandmother", the baffled boy exclaimed, "why do you protect a spider?" The old lady smiled, but did not answer.
When the young boy left, the spider moved to the old lady and thanked her for her kindness and protection. He said "For many days now, you have watched me spin and weave my web. You have admired my work and in return for saving my life, I will give you a gift." The spider moved away and began to spin his web once more.
After a while, the moon rose and spiders web glistened as it moved gently in the breeze. "See how I spin?" the spider said, "Watch and learn, for each web will snare bad dreams. Only good dreams will slip through the web - this is my gift to you. Use it so that only the good dreams will be remembered, bad dreams will be trapped until the first rays of morning light melt them away."
Traditionally dream catchers have been placed above the crib of a sleeping infant, to protect the child from bad dreams and allow only the good to fill the slumbers.
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The second version is perhaps more philosophical in nature:
LAKOTA
Many years ago, when the world was in it's infancy, an old Lakota spiritual leader was high on mountain when 'Iktomi', a great teacher of wisdom, appeared before him in a vision. In his vision, Iktomi took the form of a spider.
Speaking in a language known only to the Spiritual leaders, Iktomi began to tell of the cycles of life. As he spoke, Iktomi took up the Spititual leaders willow hoop, which was adorned with feather, bead and horse hair offerings, and gently began to spin a web of silken thread. He told the spiritual leader of how we progress from infant, to child, to adult, finally reaching old age, where once again we need the care of an infant - thus completing the circle of life.
During our journey through the circle of life, we will meet with many forces, some bad - which will try to lead us from our path, and some good - which will guide the way. Whilst he spoke gently Iktomi continued to weave his web. He went on to explain that the forces we meet will either aid, or interfere with the harmony of nature and the understanding of the teachings of the great Spirit.
When he had finished speaking, Iktomi gave the the elder the web and and said "see, the web is a perfect circle, but there is a hole in the centre. Use the web to help yourself, and your people, to reach your goals.
Make good use of your peoples ideas, dreams and visions. If you believe in the great spirit, the web will catch all that is good, allowing the bad to escape through hole". The Lakota elder passed on his vision the his people, who then made the hoops of life and carried them with them to capture their dreams and visions, but to allow evil to slip through and no longer be part of them.