According to Cheyenne custom, the umbilical cord of a newborn child is preserved and sewed into small round or diamond-shaped pouches stuffed with sweet grass. The child wears this navel amulet on his or her belt or keeps it in a safe place. It is said that children who do not have navel cords prepared in the Cheyenne traditional way will always be searching for their souls.

Girls' navel amulets are beaded with turtle designs. The turtle is known as the one who carried the dirt from the bottom of the ocean. From this dirt, the earth was created. Turtle brought the Cheyenne patience and mystery, and reminded the Cheyenne to take their time when traveling to faraway places. “I may be very slow,” said the turtle, “but I always get to wherever I'm going.”

"The beaded turtle amulets belong to my oldest daughter, Mary Yellowman, and my youngest daughter, Cricket Yellowman. Mary's amulet was prepared and beaded with a black turtle design by her grandmother, the late Susie Yellowman. Cricket's amulet was made in the shape of a turtle with cut beads by her aunt, Susan Peakheart. It is safe to say that for my daughters there is no more searching."
––Gordon Yellowman, Cheyenne chief and curator of Cheyenne Visions II

Boys' amulets are decorated with lizard designs. Lizards and turtles are used because they are strong and long-lived, attributes that Cheyenne families wish for their children.

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