Ti Mani Daguskan
(welcome babies)

In 2021 we collaborated from artists from Mînîthnî and Oneida on the Thames to make a board book of Îethka colors for babies. We called it Marazu Hmûga Owabi Chach. We printed 150 copies and gave them to the artists who contributed. We had such fun making the books that we decided to make more things for babies... that's when we started the ti mani daguskan project.

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Our goal is to welcome new Îethka babies to the community, and to provide support for young parents to teach their children Îethka Îabi (language) and culture.  We made 100 welcome packages for new babies and young parents that include basic supplies to welcome babies into Îethka culture.

 

As a storytelling society, the Nakoda AV Club maintains an artistic practice in Îethka culture. In this project our artistic output is support for new generations of Îethka speakers.

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In our community generations are short; the average age of parents is late teens and early twenties. Babies are celebrated and everyone is happy when new children come to the family, but younger generations are less familiar with the language, and so they may struggle to teach Îethka to their children. We know that our language is important to Îethka culture.

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Although the first run of the kits has been distributed, the Stoney Health Services found such value in them that they sought out funding and support to make more. Our members continue to activate the package materials in new ways, from performing the songs, to distributing cards with links to the songs at community events. 

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Click the images on this page for links to the videos & moccasin making instructions.