Wampum Belts: Sacred Treaties
The living records of peace, alliance, and the Great Law.
More Than Beads
Wampum belts are among the most significant cultural and diplomatic artifacts of the Haudenosaunee and other Eastern Woodlands nations. Constructed from shell beads, they are not decorative but serve as legal documents, treaties, and oral history devices.
The Dish with One Spoon
A covenant representing the agreement to share the land and its resources responsibly and peacefully.
Two-Row Wampum
Symbolizing two ships traveling down a river together—one Indigenous, one European—in mutual respect and non-interference.
The Hiawatha Belt
The Hiawatha Belt is one of the most famous wampums, representing the founding of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. The five symbols represent the original five nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca, all unified around the Tree of Peace.
Purple: Represents the sky and the universe.
White: Represents peace, health, and a good mind.
