When nightmares start troubling her, young Marin goes to her grandmother's home to see an Elder. After visiting with the Elder Maskwa, Marin better understands her dreams and the importance of ritual, respect and connection to the Great Spirit, Kici Manitow. With the help of her family, Marin makes a dream catcher. It helps her appreciate herself and her connection to the land and the creatures around her.

Stella Calahasen was born and raised in the Hamlet of Grouard in Northern Alberta and is a member of the Woodland Cree First Nation. During the long winter nights, her parents told Cree stories and legends that had been handed down from generation to generation. As a mother, Stella shared Cree traditions, practices and beliefs through storytelling with her two children. She was inspired to write books that would give other children an insight into the Cree people and that would retain the Cree language and culture. Stella lives in Edmonton, Alberta.

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Dream Catcher

Dream Catcher is the story of Marin. She dreams of the time of her forefathers but also has terrible nightmares in which she is attacked by a she-spider. Her mother and Kohkum (grandmother) plan to have her visit with an Elder, Maskwa, who performs a smudge ceremony and tells Marin the legend of the Spider Woman, a strong medicine woman. Marin learns about her culture and how to make a dream catcher. When hung above the bed it “catches” the bad dreams and lets the good dreams through. Maskwa says, “Some things are just meant to be” and Marin’s new dream catcher helps her face and conquer her fears. The author said she “was inspired to write books that would give other children an insight into the Cree people and that would retain the Cree language and culture.” That wish has been accomplished with Dream Catcher.

Dream Catcher

Dream Catcher is the story of Marin. She dreams of the time of her forefathers but also has terrible nightmares in which she is attacked by a she-spider. Her mother and Kohkum (grandmother) plan to have her visit with an Elder, Maskwa, who performs a smudge ceremony and tells Marin the legend of the Spider Woman, a strong medicine woman. Marin learns about her culture and how to make a dream catcher. When hung above the bed it “catches” the bad dreams and lets the good dreams through. Maskwa says, “Some things are just meant to be” and Marin’s new dream catcher helps her face and conquer her fears. The author said she “was inspired to write books that would give other children an insight into the Cree people and that would retain the Cree language and culture.” That wish has been accomplished with Dream Catcher.

Dream Catcher

Dream Catcher is the story of Marin. She dreams of the time of her forefathers but also has terrible nightmares in which she is attacked by a she-spider. Her mother and Kohkum (grandmother) plan to have her visit with an Elder, Maskwa, who performs a smudge ceremony and tells Marin the legend of the Spider Woman, a strong medicine woman. Marin learns about her culture and how to make a dream catcher. When hung above the bed it “catches” the bad dreams and lets the good dreams through. Maskwa says, “Some things are just meant to be” and Marin’s new dream catcher helps her face and conquer her fears. The author said she “was inspired to write books that would give other children an insight into the Cree people and that would retain the Cree language and culture.” That wish has been accomplished with Dream Catcher.