Dakobinaawaswaan (Baby in a Cradleboard) gathers more than 100 cradleboards representing Indigenous communities from across North America. In the language of Aninishaabeg peoples, dakobinaawaswaan describes a baby being wrapped and placed in a cradleboard, or tikinagaan. This exhibition showcases the strong legacy and beauty of traditional baby carriers — including miniatures, toy cradles and baskets — of the many Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. Through a wide range of imagery, beadwork, and specialized materials the cradleboard is honoured as a vessel of motherhood, cultural traditions, community, and resurgence.
Brought together by Shirley Stevens and the Cradle Keeper Co-operative of Northwestern Ontario, this exhibition is dedicated to the late Freda McDonald, the Elder for this initiative, who encouraged the project from the beginning.
curated by
Caitlyn Bird
Nowegijick family Tikinagaan, Paul Shonias Kiaashke Zaaging (Gull Bay First Nation)
“Teach the children”
— Freda McDonald
COMMUNITY CRADLEBOARDS
As part of Dakobinaawaswaan (Baby in a Cradleboard) we want to create new connections with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island.
We welcome you to share a photo of your tikinagaan or cradleboard along with your special story and family history. We will post the image and whatever information you feel comfortable sharing in an online gathering of cradleboards.
Please send your images and info to:
We welcome cradleboards from all over North America. We’re excited to share the legacy and beauty of cradleboards in any condition, shape, and size, including toys and moss bags.
Our intention behind the Community Cradleboards online gathering is to honour and celebrate motherhood, cultural traditions, community, and resurgence.
The organizers of Dakobinaawaswaan look forward to hearing from you, Miigwetch
GREAT LAKES REGION
Artist/Maker: Alice and Patrick Sabourin
First Nation: Anishinaabae
Location: Ojibway Netmizaaggamig, Pic River First Nation, Pic Mobert First Nation, Northwestern Ontario, Canada
Date: mid-20th century
Artist/Maker: Unknown
First Nation: Anishinaabae
Location: Great Lakes
Date: mid-20th century
NORTHWEST
Artist/Maker: Unknown
First Nation: Se’lis
Location: Coast Salish, (Confederated Tribes) Northwest Coast
Date: late-20th/early-21st century
Artist/Maker: Unknown
First Nation: Secwepemc/Salis
Location: Interior Salish/Shushwap Thompson River, Northwest Coast, Canada
Date: early/mid-20th century
PLAINS
Artist/Maker: Unknown
First Nation: Lakho’ta
Location: Plains, USA
Date: late-19th century
Artist/Maker: Unknown
First Nation: Lakho’ta
Location: Great Plains
Date: mid/late-20th century
PLATEAU
Artist/Maker: Unknown
First Nation: Nimi (N. Shoshone) or Pohogue (S. Shoshoni)
Location: Washington State, USA
Date: 1940s
Artist/Maker: Unknown
First Nation: Shuyelepee (name of village) Colville (Spokane)
Location: Plateau Washington/Pacific Northwest
Date: mid/late-20th century
CALIFORNIA
Artist/Maker: Francys Sherman (Norma Sherman)
First Nation: Nyyhmy
Location: Western Mono Lake, Paiute, California, USA
Date: 1992
Artist/Maker: Unknown
First Nation: Natinixwe Natinook-wa (people of place where trail ends)
Location: Hupa Klamath River, California, USA
Date: mid/late-20th century
TOY CRADLES
Artist/Maker: Unknown
First Nation: Niheyaw
Location: Cree Northern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Canada
Date: early/mid-20th century
Artist/Maker: Unknown
First Nation: Chumas
Location: Chumash, Cailfornia, USA
Date: mid 1980s
Artist/Maker: Unknown
First Nation: Apsa’alooke Apsaroke Crow
Location: Great Plains
Date: late-19th/early-20th century
images by
Willow Fiddler
funding provided by
