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Wampum - - Symbol of the Original United Nations

BY PAM PHILLIPS
Times Correspondent  

The first United Nations was developed about a thousand years ago and represented a confederation of five separate Iroquois nations. Together they are known as the Haudaunosee. This union protecting individual nations rights and cultures was portrayed on a woven belt known as the Hiawatha Belt. The center image is a pine tree representing the Onandaga. This tribe sponsored the original agreement where weapons were buried under a large pine tree signifying peace. The phrase “bury the hatchet” meaning make peace comes from this event.

Four additional squares completed the design. The Mohawk represent the Eastern Door and the Seneca represent the Western Door with the Oneida and Cayuga being the two central squares. Atlantic whelk shells were used to make the white beads and Quahog shells were used to make the deep purple beads. The dark purple represented a serious, solemn, or sad occasion. The coloration of the weaving determined the solemnity of the message which was woven into the belt using petroglyph like symbols. The shell beads used in this fashion were known as wampum and were also used in trade and worn as jewelry.

In the late 1700's Tuscarora refugees fleeing their homeland from white settlers and soldiers were accepted into the League. After that the League was known as the Six Nations. Wampum belts today are prized as early historical items detailing treaties and other formal agreements between non League Indian Nations and non Indian governments and even formal agreements with the Pope! As the value of these early belts became known copies were made and sold as originals ending up in collections. Wampum jewelry is becoming popular and the beautiful purple shell is being imitated in resin so always have a written receipt stating quahog shell when you purchase.

Archived Articles

• Adornment From Nature
• Cradleboards Served Many Purposes for Native Americans
• Don't Let Look-Alike Threads Fool You
• Pueblo Potters Express Themselves With Clay Art
• Turquoise - - The Gem of the Ages
• The Value of Art May Be It's Journey
• To Native Americans Fetish is a Good Thing
• Passing On the Tradition of Basket Making
• Sandpaintings Have Ceremonial, Healing Ties
• Ancient Artwork Made Use of Nature's Bounty
• Ravens: Mysterious and Bold
• Shield Yourself From Non-Native Art Form
• Kachinas or Katsinas or Dolls
• Contemporary Art Form Stems From Ancient Times
• No Such Thing As Typical American Indian