Native American End of the Trail Traditional War Shield Dream Catcher Navajo Made 3".

This End of the Trail War Shield Dream Catcher is a fine work of art by Native American artisan Curtis Bitsui. The war shield is made from genuine deer skin and pictures the traditional Navajo End of the Trail design. Vivid sunset and sky colors illuminate the background of the hand painted designs. Leather fringes with trade beads and genuine feathers hang from the war shield giving these artifacts an energetic character. This decorative dream catcher suspends from a 2-1/2" length of artificial sinew and the total length including the feathers is about 12". The dream catcher war shield itself is 3" in diameter. This Navajo made dreamcatcher would be a great addition for your home, car, or office.

The divine protection of a Warrior's Shield..... The leather shields frequently bore sacred feathers and every step in the carefully defined process of crafting the shield imbued the weapon with additional significance. As a means of deflecting arrows, lances and axes, shields had served for generations as effective defensive armor in Native American warfare. From ancient times to the present day, Indian peoples of the Southwest and great Plains have prized shields for their mystic strength. Native Americans continue to believe in the spiritual potency of the shields and still use them today during dance and medicine ceremonies.

Originally the Dream Catcher was hung by the window or at the head of your bed. The bad dreams get caught in the web and the good dreams work their way through the hole in the center, rest on the feather like a dew drop, and evaporate to the Great Spirit in the morning sun. The prayer beads on the Dream Catcher trap all the bad dreams that are left on the web. The prayer beads burn them up. There are many variations to the story of the Dream Catcher with different tribes.

We understand the true value and nature of hand crafted Indian art. And, we recognize it's important to know that the artist is truly a member of a Native American tribe. So, to ensure you that this is the real deal, a Certificate of Authenticity has been included with this item.

CERTIFIED AUTHENTIC