Description
Long ago, after birth, a baby’s kupai (umbilical cord) was immediately buried by an uncle (if the baby was a boy) or by an auntie or grandmother (if the baby was a girl). This momentous event was always celebrated with a special ceremony. The burial location of a baby’s umbilical cord was always within its clan’s boundaries and this ritual signified an ongoing connection with the child’s place of birth. Disputes over land ownership were always settled by establishing the umbilical cord locations of the parties involved. The word kupai also means ‘handing down responsibilities and power’. Upon reaching an advanced age, a leader might say, “My kupai has gone”.
