Heather Cruickshank is an artisan from Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. Born in Mahone Bay where she lived all her life she tried many different venues. Her partly Native background was not always prominent in her life, but already a number of years ago she began to explore her heritage. Heather started making dreamcatchers as a reflection of how she was feeling pysically, spiritually and mentally.

Although dreamcatchers are believed to originate from the Ojibwe Nation, most of the other First Nations adopted them in their cultures. And in fact, the idea of hanging a dreamcatcher in a window to prevent bad dreams from coming in intrigues most peoples. But even if one does not believe in the spritual nature of dreamcatchers they still are very beautiful "objets d'art".

Heather takes great care and pride in her work. She weaves all her emotions and thoughts into it such creating a unique design for each dreamcatcher up to the point that they reflect even a personal relationship because she sometimes knew the bird which had given her the feathers. In true Native manner she is thankful to the bird providing her with the material. And as a result not two dreamcatchers are alike !

"making dreamcatchers is a good way to release feelings"