When most people think about the first Thanksgiving, they think of the European settlers, or pilgrims, to the New World and the Wampanoag Indians who helped them survive their first years in an unfamiliar land. Although the early settlers didn’t consider the first harvest feast a call for a religious day of thanksgiving, they were thankful to their God and the Indians for their help. It is for this reason many people like to make Native American craft ideas for Thanksgiving.
Dream Catcher
Dream catchers wouldn’t necessarily have been used by the Wampanoag Indians because they were first used by the Ojibwa, but they are often associated with Native Americans much the same way full headdresses are. The purpose behind the dream catcher is to create a web in which nightmares are caught while a child is sleeping. However, the good dreams are able to make their way through the web and rest with the sleeping person.
The items you’ll need to make a dream catcher include:
- A 5-inch hoop made of metal (although traditionally the hoops would be made of vines which were shaped into a circle)
- 4 yards of hemp, artificial sinew or yarn with which to create the web
- 1 Pony bead or other found items like shell or sea glass to represent the spider in the web
- Natural feathers
Tie a 70-inch piece of string (hemp, sinew or yarn) in a knot with enough string to create a loop to hang the dream catcher when complete. Pull the long end of the string over about 1 to 1 1/2 inches on the hoop and bring the end to the left of the string and back over to create a half-hitch knot.
Continue this pattern every 1 to 1 1/2 inches around the hoop until you come back to the beginning. You’ll begin the next round in the center of the previous two knots to create the next layer of the web. Pull the strings tightly but not so tight as to warp the hoop.
As you make your way around the third level, use the same half-hitch to close the center of the hoop. Someplace on the third level you’ll want to tie one bead, shell or piece of sea glass to represent the spider in its web. Then continue toward the center of the hoop, being sure to leave an opening. Tie the string in a knot to end the dream catcher.
Cut the remaining string and thread two or three beads onto the string. Wrap the end of a feather in the string, apply some craft glue and then bring the beads down over the end of the feather. You can add other feathers if you like.
Headdress
A Native American headdress can be made by creating a band with construction paper about 2 inches wide. The child can draw designs on the headband before they begin adding the feathers. Glue feathers along the inside of the headband and then place a second strip of construction paper which is glued to hold the feathers in.
Children enjoy dressing up in costumes so they’ll most likely enjoy having a headdress to play with. You can also find other Native American craft ideas for Thanksgiving by searching through books, magazines and the internet if one of these crafts doesn’t appeal to you. Find several Thanksgiving crafts you can do with your children as you teach them about the history behind this annual holiday.
