Eastern Mono Cradleboard

Cradleboards of the Eastern Mono tribe feature a double layer of stiff rods, one horizontal and the other vertical, twined together with strips of redbud or other bark. To create a visually attractive cradleboard, the strips are applied in diagonals, diamonds or other decorative patterns. Other decorative features woven into the sun-shade announce the gender of the child. Diagonal slash marks indicate use by a boy, and a diamond or zigzag pattern a girl. Mono is a synonym for a band of Paiute people in California and Nevada. The Eastern Mono people are also known as Owens Valley Paiute. Since the Paiute and its subgroups lived in a very arid and inhospitable area of the country, they had little contact with Europeans until the second half of the 1800's. Many now live in Madera County California, but are also spread across California in the Owens River Valley, the San Joaquin Valley and foothills areas, especially Fresno County; and in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Cradle in Mono language: hüp

Front-facing view of the cradle.