MOTHER AND CHILD

THE HOPI NAME A BABY WITH A TRIBAL EVENT CONDUCTED BY THE MOST EXPERIENCED AND WISEST THE OF THE ELDERS. A BABY IS born WITH AN EAR OF CORN NEARBY . THE CORN IS A GIFT OF THE GODS AND IS INCLUDED IN SACRED RITES. USUALLY THE SENIOR WOMEN PRESIDED OVER THE CEREMONY. FOR THE FIRST 19 DAYS MOM AND CHILD STAY INDOORS, WITHOUT SUN. DURING THE CEREMONY THE PATERNAL GRANDMA WASHES THE HAIR WITH A CAREFULLY SELECTED EAR OF CORN.

DURING THE THE FIRST YEAR MOST INFANTS SPENT THEIR TIME IN A CRADLEBOARD. NATIVE AMERICAN LIFE WAS MORE THAN A SERIES OF MILESTONES - IT WAS A PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT. MOST TRIBES GATHERED IN FAMILIES LIKE WE DO AND YET THEY HAD MEMBERS OF THE VILLAGE NEARBY OR ENTIRE CLANS. GRANDPARENTS PARTICULARLY PRESENTED VALUES TO YOUNGER KIDS. THE VALUES WERE TO BE KIND, GENEROUS, AND RESPECTFUL OF ELDERS.

NATIVE CULTURES CHERISHED THEIR CHILDREN. BABIES WERE GIVEN FULLY BEADED MOCCASINS WITH THE SOLES BEADED AS WELL. IN SOME TRIBES AS YOU GROW UP CHILDREN WERE NOT EXPECTED TO ASK QUESTIONS; BUT TO LEARN BY WATCHING . WOMEN WERE THOUGHT TO HAVE SPECIAL POWERS BECAUSE THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO GIVE BIRTH. PREGNANT WOMEN HAD VARIOUS RESTRICTIONS. CERTAIN FOODS WERE TABOO. A CHEROKEE PREGNANT WOMAN WAS EXPECTED TO VISIT A LOCAL RIVER WHERE PRAYERS WOULD BE SAID FOR HER CHILD. SHE DRANK A MEDICINAL TEA OF SLIPPERY ELM, PINE CONES, ROOTS AND STEM. THE ELM BARK ENSURED AN EASY DELIVERY . A PRIEST CAME HERE AND A WIFE AND HER HUSBAND WENT TO THE RIVER AND RECITED A PRAYER. HE OFFERED PREDICTIONS ABOUT THE SEX OF THE CHILD AND -IF IT WOULD SURVIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD. THE PREGNANT WOMAN VOMITED AND THE MEDICINE AND CLEANSED HERSELF OF ANY DISEASE THAT COULD HARM HER CHILD. BIRTH ASSISTANTS WERE COMMON .

THE NAVAJO WOMEN COMMONLY GAVE BIRTH AT HOME AND WHEN LABOR BEGAN A MIDWIFE HELPED HER. SHE WAS CALLED " THE WOMAN WHO PULLS THE BABY OUT". A SACRED SINGER WAS PRESENT TO OFFER CEREMONIAL CHANTS.

SEMI NOMADIC WOMEN OFTEN GAVE BIRTH ON THE TRAIL. BUFFALO BIRD WOMEN, HIDATSA, SHARED HER LIFE WITH ANTHROPOLOGIST GILBERT WILSIN IN 1870. SHE HAD WALKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. ON A COLD NOVEMBER DAY HER BAND PITCHED TIPIS AT MIDNIGHT AND SHE GAVE BIRTH ON A BED OF GRASS WITH ASSISTANCE OF HER FATHER'S WIFE. AFTER THE CHILD WAS BUNDLED THE NEXT DAY, SHE CROSSED THE ICY RIVER WITH THE REST OF THE TRIBE.

IN MOST NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES THE PLACENTA HAD A SPECIAL PLACE FOR DISPOSAL. HOPIS BURIED IT IN SPECIAL HILLS. HAWAIIANS PLACED IT IN CUPULES (LAVA ROCK ART). WASHO MOMS BUNDLES IT WITH THE UMBILICAL CORD WRAPPED IN BARK AND BURIED IT.CHEYENNE PLACED IT IN SPECIAL BEADED BAGS.

TWINS IN MOST NATIVE COMMUNITIES WERE CONSIDERED TO BE A DISGRACE TO THE COMMUNITY. SOME MOTHERS KILLED ONE OF THEIR TWINS TO CONCEAL A MULTIPLE BIRTH. THERE WERE A LOT OF SUPERSTITIONS REGARDING TWINS AND CHILDBIRTH. THE MOMS AND BABIES WERE USUALLY KEPT IN SOME KIND OF SECLUSION. . SOME TRIBES HELD CEREMONIES THAT INITIATED THE INFANT INTO THE TRIBE. THE MOMS USED NATURAL PLANT MATERIALS FOR DIAPERS INCUDING SOFT CATTAIL DOWN, SHREDDED WILLOW, BARK OR SPHAGNUM MOSS. THEY HAD MOSS BAGS HELD IN PLACE BY A CLOTH OR LEATHER THONG.

NAMING THE CHILD WAS DONE BY AN ELDER AFTER IT WAS BORN. THE ARAPAHO BABIES WERE COVERED WITH BUFFALO MANURE WELL AGED AND GROUND. ONCE IT WAS WET THEY AIRED AND DRIED IT, POWDERED IT AND REUSED IT.

IN THE NAVAJO CULTURE THE RITUAL CALLED THE GIVE AWAY RITUAL AN IMPORTANT STEP IN MOLDING A CHILD'S CHARACTER. IF NOT HELD THE NAVAJO BELIEVED THE CHILD WOULD BECOME THE SELFISH AND UNWILLING TO SHARE. AFTER THE RITUAL THEY WERE GIVEN A BRACELET, NECKLACE, OR SILVER BUTTON. GIRLS WERE GIVEN A WHITE SHELL OR BEAD. IT GAVE THEM MEMBERSHIP.

THE PAPAGO AND CHEYENNE DID NOT SCOLD THEIR CHILDREN. THE CHEYENNE DID NOT SCOLD THEIR CHILDREN.THEY USED WATER TO CORRECT MISBEHAVIOR. THEY POUR DOWN IT'S NOSE IF A BABY OR CHILD CRIED TOO LONG!

OF COURSE THE ELDERS TOLD THE CHILDREN STORIES AND MYTHS AROUND A CAMPFIRE NIGHTLY.

MOST TRIBES DO NOT HOLD SPECIAL CEREMONIES FOR CHILDREN ONCE THEY ARE OVER THE AGE OF 10. HOWEVER, THE TEWA STAGE AN IMPORTANT CEREMONY. IT IS CALLED "THE WATER POURING RITE". ONCE THE CHILD IS 10 YEARS OLD, THE ADULTS START PREPARING FOR THIS CEREMONY. THE KIVA IS CLEANED . SOME OF THE ADULTS ARE CHOSEN FOR IMPERSONATING TEWA DIETIES. ON THE FORTH NIGHT THE YOUNG PEOPLE BRING GIFTS TO THE ADULTS SPONSORING THE EVENT. BOYS CHOP WOOD, GIRLS GRIND CORN. SPONSORS INSTRUCT CHILDREN IN TEWA LORE. ON THE FORTH NIGHT THE MASKED ADULTS ENTER THE KIVA AND CHILDREN RECEIVE A BATH. THEN THEIR INNOCENT DAYS ARE GONE AND THEY ARE GIVEN MORE RESPONSIBILITIES.

VIRGINIA ALEXANDRIA