Wampum Belts

By: Beth Zimowski

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The Haudenosaunee used them to record important events, such as deaths or peace treaties

When the Europeans arrived, they began using wampum as money

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Hiawatha Belt  The Two Row Wampum Belt  The George Washington Belt

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Represents the Original Five Nations

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Represents a treaty of peace between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch settlers

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Represents the alliance between the United States and the Haudenosaunee

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The Onondaga Nation are known as the keepers of the wampum.

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As long as a messenger carried a wampum string or belt, everyone knew that the messenger’s words were true and could be trusted.

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Wampum belts’ beads were made of shells, usually quahog clam shells

Two colors were mainly used:

White and Purple