Sioux/Blackfoot Cradleboard

Blackfoot cradleboards are variations of Plains cradles. The form of the Plains cradle was an open bag of buckskin topped with a U-shaped hood often attached to a wooden frame. The parts included the wooden frame, open bag, bed, foot rest and other rawhide supports, suspension devices, pillow, lashings or lacings to keep the baby in place, an awning or hood (to protect the baby and provide shade from the sun), and trinkets and amulets for entertainment and protection. The sides of the hood were usually covered with fine colorful beadwork, and the cradle could be rested on the lower ends of the vertical boards of the frame. The upper ends of the vertical boards extended beyond the top of the bag and were usually decorated with paint or designs composed of brass studs. It was thought that the upper ends of the vertical boards would hit the ground first it the baby fell from a horse. The Blackfoot were the classic Plains Indians. Buffalo provided for nearly all of their needs, from food to clothing to leather for their tipis. When first encountered by Europeans, the Blackfoot were living on the plains of Montana and Alberta, Canada, near the Rocky Mountains. Because of their dependence on buffalo, the Blackfoot were swift to adapt to the use of horses when they became prevalent in the 18th century Soon they had large herds and a well-deserved repu tation for horsemanship. Cradle in Blackfoot language: a-wa-pi-stan

Front-facing view of the cradle.