A dreamcatcher is only one of the crafts made by the Native Americans.
Native Americans were prominent in Illinois. In fact, the name of the state itself is from the Miami word "Iliniwek," which is also the name of the state university's mascot. Other tribes to reside in the heart of Illinois were the Illini and Ojibwe. Among all of these tribes, many distinct crafts were created.
Birchbark Box
Although many tribes crafted their own types of containers, the birchbark box is a piece that was perfected by the Ojibwe tribe. Made of the soft bark of a birch tree, this craft was decorated with intricate quill-work using the dyed quills of a porcupine. The Miami and the Illini tribes also created exceptional quill-work. These boxes were used to store food, tools, scrolls and a number of small items, many of them sacred.
Leather Moccasins
Anyone who has been to Springfield in January knows that Illinois winters can be quite bitter. The members of the Miami tribe who inhabited much of the middle of the state were particularly good craftsmen of leather moccasins. The moccasin is, of course, a Native American staple that comes in many varieties depending on the climate. The moccasins worn in central Illinois were made of extra tough leather to keep heat in and frostbite away.
Dreamcatcher
One of the most popular Native American crafts is the dreamcatcher. Unlike many others, it is not a utility craft. Although people today mostly use dreamcatchers as decoration, many tribes, including the Ojibwe of Illinois, constructed them as sacred tools which, when hung over a bed, were believed to chase away bad dreams. The craft itself was made of a circular woven net along with several bird feathers hanging below. Dreamcatchers came in many sizes and were admired for their intricacy and beautiful design.
Wampum
Most tribes in Illinois, including the Miami, Illini and Ojibwe, were known for their exceptional beadwork. The most common example can be found in the wampum, which is made of shellbeads and a piece of twine. Wampums could be anything from a simple string to a complex netting of beads. They were used by each tribe not only as decorations but symbols of power and authority. Although the resources needed for shell beads were not common to most of central Illinois, tribes like the Miami would trade with others, like the Iroquois further east, to obtain them.
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