Photographs (left to right): Athens Botanical Gardens, Georgia; Wakulla Springs, Florida; Athens Botanical Gardens, Georgia

Wampum other than Belts Archive

 

Indigenous Peoples Day Belt

Richard D. Hamell

July 21, 2022

 

Original Size:	Beaded Length: 33.0 inches. Width: 8.0 inches. Length w/fringe: 57.0 inches
Reproduction:	Columns: 208. Rows: 16.
Beads:	Polymer. 3,328 whole beads. 72 half-size beads.
Materials:	Warp: Deer leather. Weft: artificial sinew.

Description by Patrica Corocran:

This wampum belt was designed by Rich Hamell and members of the Indigenous Peoples Day committee.

The three falls on the left represent the Genesee River in Rochester as it existed thousands of years ago. The Genesee (beautiful valley) River has changed over time, but the three falls remain consistent in human time. The two bands represent the river itself and remind us of The Two Row Wampum Belt which was the First Agreement between the Europeans and the Haudenosaunee.

The two rows are equal width and length, never intersect and represent the paths each will travel down the river of life, side by side as equals. Both are to respect party’s culture and refrain from interfering with the ways of the other. This covenant was meant to encompass the whole circle of life and to live together in Peace, Harmony and Friendship forever. On the right is Lake Ontario and the white canoe which carried the Peacemaker to us from the North (Canada). The White Pine tree of Peace is where the Peacemaker told us to bury our weapons of war, as well as our greed and jealousy, so we can focus on cooperation and compassion. The central images represent Indigenous and non-Native individuals holding a wampum belt in peace and understanding.This wampum belt was designed by Rich Hamell and members of the Indigenous Peoples Day committee The three falls on the left represent the Genesee River in Rochester as it existed thousands of years ago. The Genesee (beautiful valley) River has changed over time, but the three falls remain consistent in human time. The two bands represent the river itself and remind us of The Two Row Wampum Belt which was the First Agreement between the Europeans and the Haudenosaunee. The two rows are equal width and length, never intersect and represent the paths each will travel down the river of life, side by side as equals. Both are to respect party’s culture and refrain from interfering with the ways of the other. This covenant was meant to encompass the whole circle of life and to live together in Peace, Harmony and Friendship forever.

On the right is Lake Ontario and the white canoe which carried the Peacemaker to us from the North (Canada). The White Pine tree of Peace is where the Peacemaker told us to bury our weapons of war, as well as our greed and jealousy, so we can focus on cooperation and compassion. The central images represent Indigenous and non-Native individuals holding a wampum belt in peace and understanding.

 

Reference:

Corocan, Trish. 2022. Indigenous Peoples Day. Rochester, NY