The Dreamcatcher

Moonwind, Highwater, Earthfawn and Stormfire worked frantically to catch the dreams of the "Wasichu", pale men, the takers of the fat! Destroyers of the land.

They needed desperately to harness the wind, to form from the wind, earth and nature a fitting tribute to offer Mother Nature for her protection from the dangers which the white devils could wrought upon the land. They came with firesticks of death and destruction from which the best arrows could offer no protection, while the unwelcome visitors burned the simple homes of their people.

They trampled the crops, stole the horses and killed without mercy anything that stood in their paths.

The Native Americans respected the land, and in return the land yielded their crops and kept them fed. They showed respect to the animals, only taking enough meat to keep them fed. Theirs were a symbiotic relationship which the pale ones would never understand.

The four elements heard the call of the native people. They drew near from the four corners of the earth.

Wind came from the North, Fire from the East, Water from the South and Earth from West and everywhere.

They brought a mighty storm of sand, rain and terrible lightning upon the approaching ships and men who walked the land towards the native people. The storm blew for days, blinding the eyes of both men and horses. They sought shelter from the terrible winds and torturous driving rain. But to no avail. For a whole week they were battered and flung about.

The aptly named four elemental medicine men spun and chanted for the entire week. Their spiritual auras had no need for food or bodily functions. Their immortal souls were in tune with all creation. As they spun, rounded circle-like figures appeared. Feathers flew in from the air, threads, cords, beads, celestial markings which directed the various parts to play their parts, all spun around and around.

Suddenly the entire earth stopped. The pale ones fell asleep. Each had the same dream. "Leave this land and never return".

The DREAMCATCHER had been created.

The sleeping dreamers were warned, that it would take their dreams and keep them asleep forever, if they should decide to continue the foolish quest of taking the land from those who first inhabited it.

They decided to leave, and the native peoples lived in peace forever after.

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