Celebrating life while acknowledging death
I apologize for missing my recent columns, especially as Tim did such a nice notice about us columnists. Then, the Northern Cheyenne lost a great friend and hero, Jerry Small, a rodeo legend throughout the Plains country (not only Indian Country, but in the PRCA ranks) passed away of a massive heart attack - it seemed too soon for him to go.
Somehow this has unhinged me, as it has his many family members and good friends, so I could not summon up the energy or motivation to write a column during that initial shock, sunk into dark gloom, as were so many. At some later point, a tribute will be in order, for he was one of the best rodeo cowboys to ever inhabit this land – Indian, non-Indian, bar none. He had a good send off on Saturday, August 31, cowboys, cowgirls, family and friends coming from around the country, even Canada to see him carried home.
Yet, as we dwell upon death, especially the untimely loss of dear friends and loved ones, we must also focus upon life.
That is what my good sister-friend, Chris Small, an in-law and best friend to Jerry, recently did. The Cheyenne have the tradition of the umbilical cord and following that, Chris was busy beading one of those very special traditional pouches for a new granddaughter.
Maybe other Tribes do this too, I don’t know, but it is a very special part of the Northern Cheyenne way.
The information in this article was provided by Mina Seminole, historical researcher at Chief Dull Knife College, an article one of our formidable elders, Jenny Parker wrote so that it might be passed on. I simply pass it on to our readers.
CHEYENNE BELIEFS REGARDING THE UMBILICAL CORD
Written by Jenny Parker, adapted slightly by Clara Caufield (indicated by italics, based upon conversations with elders, including Jenny. Approving this piece, she advised “Fix it up a little bit.)
In the past when a woman was carrying an unborn child, she would talk and sing to the baby. The mother was very careful of things that she ate as well as what she handled so as not to bring harm to her child. The mother would explain what she was doing to let the child know it was loved and wanted.
![](https://www.indianz.com/News/2019/09/20/cheyennemotherandchild.jpg)
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