WAMPUM BELTS

WHAT IS WAMPUM?

Wampum are small and short tubular shaped beads that are made out of seashells that are white or violet.

They were strung into strings or woven into belts.

The word Wampum means White Shell beads.

WHAT WERE WAMPUM BELTS USED FOR? Wampum belts were used by many Native

American groups all over the world. They were used for sending messages to other

nations. They were also used as gifts and to record

important events like treaties, pledges, and marriages.

Pictures were also woven into the belts that told stories about other nations. The belts were important in storytelling.

They were also used as trade with the Europeans.

FAMOUS WAMPUM BELTS

The Four Nations Belt

Two Row Wampum Belt

The Hiawatha Wampum Belt

WHAT DID THESE FAMOUS BELTS MEAN?The Four Nations Belt- Symbolized an alliance or

agreement between the Huron Indians and the French. It represented Huron strength. The men on the belt were warriors holding shields.

Two Row Wampum Belt- Was famous for a treaty between the Dutch and the Iroquois. The top purple line is the Iroquois and the bottom is the Dutch. It represents that they lived side by side in peace. The white sections represent peace.

The Hiawatha Wampum Belt- Symbolized the beginning of the Iroquois league, each square representing one of the original Iroquois tribes.

COLORS AS SYMBOLS

There are many different symbols that can be used for Wampum Belts as you saw in the famous belts on the last slide. Here are also some color symbols that are used:

Purple: Spiritual wisdom Gold: strength, wealth

White: peace Blue: loyalty, sadnessYellow: happiness Black:

unhappinessRed: angry, war, love Pink: happiness

WHERE TO FIND WAMPUM BELTS

Today many Wampum belts can be found in museums such as the National Museum of the American Indian located in Washington D.C. and also in Upstate New York at The Iroquois Indian Museum and the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum