Long ago when the world was 

young, an old Lakota spiritual 

leader was on a high moun- 

tain and had a vision. 

In his vision, Iktomi, the great 

trickster and teacher of wisdom, 

appeared in the form of a spider. 

Iktomi spoke to him in a 

sacred language that only the 

spiritual leaders of the Lakota 

could understand. As he 

spoke, Iktomi, the spider, took 

the elder's willow hoop which 

had feathers, horse hair, 

beads and offerings on it and 

began to spin a web. He spoke to the elder about the cycles of life… and how we begin 

our lives as infants and we move on to childhood, and then to adulthood. Finally, we go 

to old age, where we must be taken care of as infants, completing the cycle. 

"But," iktomi said as he continued to spin his web, "in each time of life there are many 

forces - some good and some bad. If you listen to the good forces, they will steer you in 

the right direction. But if you listen to the bad forces, they will hurt you and steer you 

in the wrong direction." 

He continued, "There are many forces and different directions that can help or interfere 

with the harmony of nature, and also with the great spirit and all of his wonderful 

teachings." 

All the while the spider spoke, he continued to weave his web, starting from the outside 

and working towards the center. When iktomi finished speaking, he gave the Lakota 

elder the web and said: "See, the web is a perfect circle but there is a hold in the center 

of the circle." 

He said, "Use the web to help yourself and your people to reach your goals and make 

good use of your people's ideas, dreams and visions. 

"if you believe in the great spirit, the web will catch your good ideas - and the bad ones 

will go through the hole." 

The Lakota elder passed on his vision to his people and now the Sioux Indians use the 

dream catcher as the web of their life. It is hung above their beds or in their home to 

sift their dreams and visions. The good in their dreams are captured in the web of life 

and carried with them… but the evil in their dreams escapes through the hole in the 

center of the web and are no longer a part of them. They believe that the dream catcher 

holds the destiny of their future. 

TALKING STICKS 

A talking stick is a tool this is used amongst the circle of individuals en enable 

the person holding the stick the right to talk. 

No one else is permitted to talk until the stick is passed on to them.  

This way every persons opinions is respected and viewed. 

Our talking sticks are made from red willow which is also used as a  sacred 

tobacco among the Native Americans. 

They have either otter or buffalo fur and deer buckskin with a turkey feather 

or sage. A sage puch is on some of them to keep bad feelings away. 

CHOKERS 

Chokers were used among the Native Americans traditionally as a form of 

armor. Today they are worn with regalia or worn as decoration.  

The chokers are hand  made from buffalo horn, rabbit bone both white and 

stained, or amber horn which is buffalo horn that has been heat treated to 

look like amber. They have  turquoise or glass beads and deer  buckskin 

for the ties. 

PRAYER FANS 

Prayer fans are used in various ways.  One of the most common ways it is 

used is for the smudging ceremony.  In the ceremony negative energy is 

released through sage and cedar smoke, sweetgrass is used to bring in positive 

energy.  The prayer fans are hand made from deer buckskin and turkey feathers 

and plumes.  They are decorated with turquoise (for protection), deer antler 

(unity), or abalone shell (to reflect bad medicine). They also have fringe and 

come in various styles. 

BUFFALO BAGS 

Long ago the buffalo was used to feed and clothe the Native American 

Indians. They used every part of the buffalo and believed that it was sacred. 

Today, the  buffalo respesents prayer and abundance for the people. 

The bags are made from quality buffalo hide and deer buckskin. 

They are all hand made and have various glass beads,turquoise, and 

fringe for decoration.