The Importance of Dreaming
Dreams have two purposes: to locate game or hunting locations and portals to communicate with spirits. Unlike western beliefs that dreams originate in the mind of the dreamer, Indigenous beliefs say they "arise from the external world around the dreamer"(Oberholtzer, 2012, p.28). The more dreams experienced, the more spirit helpers and spiritual power was held by the dreamer. Although dreams are experienced by the individual the powers that come from them are seen as benefiting the entire community. The Cree believed hunting locations, songs, and designs for hunting tools and clothing which came to him in dreams made him a stronger hunter (Oberholtzer, 2012).
Ojibwa men participate in an important ritual in which they dream of other-than-human persons. Dream visitors, or bawaaganag, could become Guardian spirits, that held great powers of protection and aid. The dream visitors were dreamed of during the Ojibwa boy's puberty fasts. But dream visitors could also be harmful, and those who were blessed had to be careful not to offend the spirits (Oberholtzer, 2012).
Background Photo taken by Kris Williams.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jixxer/
Ojibwa men participate in an important ritual in which they dream of other-than-human persons. Dream visitors, or bawaaganag, could become Guardian spirits, that held great powers of protection and aid. The dream visitors were dreamed of during the Ojibwa boy's puberty fasts. But dream visitors could also be harmful, and those who were blessed had to be careful not to offend the spirits (Oberholtzer, 2012).
Background Photo taken by Kris Williams.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jixxer/