Home · Culture & Social · Customs & Traditions · Child Birth

Carrier customs/traditions
and value systems

Child Birth

The cycle of life starts at the birth of a child. When women became pregnant they were expected to follow certain rules and rituals, and to avoid certain foods. They believed that women should avoid eating bear meat, as it would make her child mean and aggressive, like the bear. As well, they believed that if she ate an animal that had been killed slowly, like in a snare, that her child would suffer a similar fate. When the time of birthing drew near the woman would move to a brush shelter that her husband had built for her, out and away from the main camp. During the birth of the child two other women, the husband’s mother and an experienced midwife would help the woman. The newborn was washed and wrapped in a rabbit-skin blanket. The placenta was either hung from a tree to ensure the baby was a good hunter or into water to allow future childbirth to be easier.