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wampum - the significance of the wampum belt
...the Two Row
Wampum Belt
As the various European nations landed in the new world, the indians
established treaties with them. The following is an explanation of the
wampum belt.
The Two row wampum...
"...this symbolizes the agreement under which the Iroquois/Haudenosaunee
welcomed the white peoples to their lands.
'We will NOT be like father and son, but like brothers.
These two rows will symbolize vessels,
traveling down the same river together.
One will be for the Original People, their laws, their customs,
and the other for the European people and their laws and customs.
We will each travel the river together,
but each in our own boat.
And neither of us will try to steer the other's vessel.'"
The agreement has been kept by the Iroquois/Haudenosaunee to this date.
Historically the Haudenosaunee were nations of people who
practiced very sophisticated, yet simple, diplomatic principles
in their dealings with other nations.
When the Haudenosaunee first encountered the representatives
of certain European nations, they found that they were unaware
of these principles, and had the potential for disrupting the
peaceful ways that Haudenosaunee people wished to live.
Because our cultures and life ways were so different, it was
essential that a relationship be established based on mutual
respect.
The Haudenosaunee proposed a treaty of peace, respect and
peaceful co-existence, known as the Kas-wen-tha, or Two Row
Wampum belt.
The belt was made with two parallel rows of purple wampum on
a bed of white beads. The white was meant to symbolize the
purity of the agreement. The two separate rows of purple beads,
were made to symbolize and encompass the spirits of Haudenosaunee
and non-Haudenosaunee people and ancestors. Between the two rows
of purple beads, three rows of white beads, were placed. These
were made to stand tor the friendship, peace and respect between
the two nations.
It is said, that the two rows of purple beads, further symbolize,
that two nations of people in separate vessels travel down the
river, parallel from each other. The Onkwehonwe (Native people)
are in their canoes. This symbolizes their culture, their laws,
their traditions, their customs and other life-ways. The non-Native
people are said to be in their own ships, which symbolizes their
culture, their laws, their traditions, their customs and other
life-ways.
It is said that, each nation shall stay in their own vessels,
and travel the river side by side. Further, it is said, that
neither nation will try to steer the vessel of the other, or
interfere or impede the travel of the other.
The Two Row Wampum is a treaty of respect for the dignity and
integrity of the other culture and stresses the importance of
non-interference of one nation in the business of the other,
unless invited.
The early principles established in the Two Row Wampum Treaty
formed the basis of all Haudenosaunee treaties with other Nations,
including the Dutch, the French, the British, and then the Americans.
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This website is owned by Jim (Stoney) Burke
Brantford, Ont., Canada
