Cradleboards were given to young girls to play with to help
develop skills used when adulthood was reached. This cradleboard
was made for a child. The cradle sack is made from red trade
cloth and holds a cotton fabric doll. The facial features of the
doll are hand embroidered and have human hair braids. On the
left hand side of the board, just out of view, is a small beaded
pouch that represents where the umbilical cord was kept. The
only time the umbilical cord could be removed from the pouch,
was if the child faced a life-threatening illness. The Medicine
man or woman would use it in their healing. Bison (Bos bison)
Buckskin, wood, tradecloth, glass beads, hair. L 68.3, 31.2 cm
Nez Perce National Historical Park, NEPE 1629