Dakonaagan (Cradleboards)

Cradleboards are a traditional Native American method mothers used to safely carry their infants in a way that allowed them to freely use their hands. Children are tightly swaddled to feel secure and fuss less and cradleboards help cultivate good posture. Cradleboards can show kinship and be passed through communities as gifts.

Cradleboard Gallery

This beautiful cradleboard was made by Biskakone Greg Johnson and Alexandria Sulainis of Lac du Flambeau for their son, Baswewe.

A row of flowers in the Woodland art style by Neebin Southall

Cradleboard Sentences

The following sentences were written at the 15th Annual Language and Culture Camp in Manistee, Michigan for a workshop led by Judy Pamp.

Cradleboard Project-1

1. Apane igo ogii-inaabajitoonaawaan dakonaaganan Anishinaabeg.
Always (in the past) they used the holding things Anishinaabe people.
The people have always used cradleboards.


Cradleboard Project-2

2. Bebakaan igo gemaa daa-ezhi-ozhitoonaawaan dakonaaganan.
Different very maybe they would make them cradleboards.
Cradleboards could be made in many different ways.


Cradleboard Project-3

3. Mii gaa- ezhichigewaad Anishinaabeg minogi’aawaad abinoojiinyensan
So this they did the people to raise them well the babies.
This is what they people did to raise a baby well.


Cradleboard Project-4

4. Dakonaaganing abinoojiinyensan babaamiwizh’aawaad.
In the cradleboard babies are carried around by them.
They carried the babies around in the cradleboard.


Cradleboard Project-5

5. Gaye gaa-ezhichigewaad mii wii-noondaagenid, waabanjigenid miinawaa ani-gikendaasonid epiichi zaagi’igaazonid
Also they did this so they will hear, see, and learn while they are loved.
This also was done so babies would see things, hear things and learn while being loved by someone.


Cradleboard Project-6

6. Mii gaa- bi- ezhi- bimaadiziwaad.
So (past) here the way they lived.
So this is how they lived.


Cradleboard Project-7

7. Abinoojiinyensan gii-ganawenjigaazowan epiichi ayaanid dakonaaganing.
The baby was cared for while being in the cradleboard.
The baby was cared for while in the cradleboard.


Cradleboard Project-8

8. Mitigoonsan ogii- waaganaawaan ji-dakonaaganikewaad.
Sticks (past) they bent them to make a cradleboard.
They bent sticks to make a cradleboard.


Cradleboard Project-9

9. Ogii-aabajitoonaawaan asigobaan, wiigwaas miinawaa giizhik ji-dakonaaganikewaad.
They used basswood, birchbark and cedar to make the cradleboard.
They used basswood, birchbark and cedar to make the cradleboard.


Cradleboard Project-10

10. Nanigodinong ogii- mazinibiidoonaawaan.
Sometimes (past) they decorated it.
Sometimes they decorated it.


Cradleboard Project-11

11. Niigaan-inaabiwan ogaman megwaa abinoojiinyensan azheyaa-inaabinid.
Forward looking the mother while the baby backward looking.
As the mother is looking forward, the baby is looking back.

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