Cradleboard

Cradleboards (Cheyenne: pâhoešestôtse, Northern Sami: gietkka, Skolt Sami: ǩiõtkâm, Inari Sami: kietkâm, Pite Sami: gietkam, Kazakh: бесік, Kyrgyz: бешік) are traditional protective baby-carriers used by many indigenous cultures in North America, throughout northern Scandinavia among the Sámi, and in the traditionally nomadic cultures of Central Asia. There is a variety of styles of cradleboard, reflecting the diverse artisan practices of indigenous cultures. Many Central Asian communities and some indigenous communities in North America still use cradleboards.