How To Make Wampum Beads

In 1613, the Mohawks noticed people coming into their territory unannounced. The visitors had begun to cut trees and clear land for their homes and farms. They had entered the lands of the Haudenosaunee and were at present occupying some of their empty rooms (country). The newcomers dressed oddly and had hair on their faces. They had fe pots and pans and had their families with them. These people needed a identify to live. The Mohawks sent a runner to Onondaga to convene a coming together of the Haudenosaunee.

At the meeting it was discussed that a delegation must travel to where these people had settled to determine their intentions. It was difficult for the delegation. The people they met spoke in a linguistic communication they hadn't heard before. Information technology took much fourth dimension and patience for the two people to begin to communicate.

Later on many discussions, it was decided that the Haudenosaunee and the Europeans must have a way to greet each other when they come across. The settlers with their large sailed boat thought that they should be called "Father" and the Haudenosaunee "Son." The Haudenosaunee said that this would not practice. "We shall address each other as 'Brothers.' This shows that nosotros are equal to each other."

As the Haudenosaunee and Dutch discovered much nigh each other, an agreement was made equally to how they were to treat each other and live together. Each of their ways would be shown in the royal rows running the length of a wampum chugalug. "In i row is a ship with our White Brothers' means; in the other a canoe with our ways. Each will travel downward the river of life side by side. Neither will attempt to steer the other's vessel."

The Haudenosaunee and the Dutch agreed on three principles to make this treaty last. The first was friendship; the Haudenosaunee and their white brothers will live in friendship. The second principle is peace; there will be peace between their two people. The terminal principle is forever; that this agreement will last forever.

The Dutch recorded this agreement on paper with 3 silvery chains. Iron bondage would not do because iron rusts and breaks over fourth dimension. Silver, on the other hand, can be polished and renewed when the brothers run across. The Haudenosaunee and the Dutch agreed to call this the Silverish Covenant Chain of Friendship.

The Haudenosaunee explained to the Dutch that they did not employ newspaper to tape their history. They would make belts made of white and regal wampum shells. The Haudenosaunee made a belt to record this understanding. The chugalug has two purple rows running alongside each other representing 2 boats. One boat is the canoe with the Haudenosaunee mode of life, laws, and people. The other is the Dutch ship with their laws, religion, and people in information technology. The boats will travel side by side downwardly the river of life. Each nation will respect the means of each other and will non interfere with the other. "Together we will travel in Friendship and in Peace Forever; as long as the grass is greenish, as long as the water runs downhill, as long as the sun rises in the Eastward and sets in the West, and as long as our Mother Earth volition last."

Importance of Gä•sweñta' Today

The Haudenosaunee encounter the 2 Row Wampum every bit a living treaty; a manner that they have established for their people to live together in peace; that each nation will respect the ways of the other as they run across to discuss solutions to the issues that come before them.