This story tells of the origin of the baby swing in the Cree (Nehiyaw) tradition. Morning Star’s mother is bringing home a new baby, so Nôkhom (her grandmother) and her father are making a swing for the baby. Grandmother tells Morning Star the legend of how Grandmother Earth brought materials for the swing to a young woman named White Flower who had been left to care for many babies while the parents were off hunting. White Flower was in tears because the babies would not stop crying, so she prayed to the grandmothers in Spirit World for help. When White Flower and Grandmother Earth put the babies in the swings, they calmed down and White Flower was able to get her chores done.

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A Cree woman originally from Wabasca, Darlene Auger lives in Edmonton, Alberta, (Amiskwâci Wâskahikan). She is a fluent Cree speaker and is passionate about passing on her language through song and story. Darlene is an educator, researcher, entrepreneur, holistic practitioner, actress and singer. Darlene has a psychology degree from the University of Alberta and a doctoral degree from the University Nuhelotine Thayotsi Nistameyimakanak Blue Quills in “Iyiniw Pimâtisiwin Kiskeyihtamowin” (Indigenous Life Knowledge). She has created a healing method modeled on an ancient Indigenous parenting tool for the healing benefit of all people, and she developed this language learning kit so that she could share her knowledge with the world. Darlene is an accomplished speaker and facilitator, having presented locally, nationally and internationally.