Photographs (left to right): Skate Egg Sacks, Florida; Apple Blossoms, Rush, New York; Pine sap, Rush, New York

Wampum Belt Archive

 

Yellowhead Wampum Belt

 

Reproduction R. D. Hamell. Sept. 20, 2023

 

Original Size:	Not given
Reproduction:	Beaded Length: 36.5 inches. Width: 5.5 inches. With fringe: 60.5 inches.
Beads:	Columns: 219. Rows: 11.  Beads: Polymer: 2,409: 1 shell wampum (1650)
Materials:	Warp: Deer leather. Weft: Artificial sinew. Moon Shell.

Description
Eternal Council Fires—Yellowhead Wampum Belt
Quote: Darlene Johnston (2004)

“Chief Yellowhead rose up and made a speech and exhibited the great Wampum belt of the Six Nations, and explained the talk contained in it. This Wampum was about 3 feet long and 4 inches wide. It had a row of White Wampum in the centre, running from one end to the other, and the representations of wigwams every now and then, and a large round wampum tied nearly the middle of the belt, with a representation of the sun in the centre.”

Yellowhead stated that this belt was given by the Nahdooways to the Ojebways many years ago—about the time the French first came to this country. That the great Council took place at Lake Superior—that the Nahdooways made the road or path and pointed out the different council fires which were to be kept lighted. The first marks on the Wampum represented that a council fire should be kept burning at the Sault Ste Marie. The second mark represented the Council Fire at Manitoulin Island, where a beautiful White Fish was placed, who should watch the fire as long as the world stood. The third mark represents the Council Fire placed on an island opposite Penetanguishene Bay, on which was placed a Beaver to watch the fire. The 4th mark represents the Council Fire lighted up at the Narrows of Lake Simcoe at which place was put a White Rein Deer. To him the Rein Deer was committed the keeping of this Wampum talk.

At this place our fathers hung up the Sun, and said that the Sun should be a witness to all what had been done and that when any of their descendants saw the Sun they might remember the acts of their forefathers. At the Narrows our fathers placed a dish with ladles around it, and a ladle for the Six Nations, who said to the Ojebways that the dish or bowl should never be emptied, but he (Yellowhead) was sorry to say that it had already been emptied, not by the Six Nations on the Grand River, but by the Caucanawaugas residing near Montreal. The 5th mark represents the Council Fire which was placed at this River Credit where a beautiful white-headed Eagle was placed upon a very tall pine tree, in order to watch the Council Fires and see if any ill winds blew upon the smoke of the Council Fires. A dish was also placed at the Credit. That the right of hunting on the north side of the Lake was secured to the Ojebways, and the Six Nations were not to hunt here only when they come to smoke the pipe of peace with their Ojebway brethren. The path on the Wampum went from the Credit over to the other side of the Lake the country of the Six Nations. Thus ended the talk of Yellowhead and his Wampum.”

Reference:
Johnston, Darlene. 2004. Connecting people to place: Great Lakes Aboriginal History in Cultural Context. Paper prepared for the Ipperwash Inquiry, July. (LAC RG 10, Vol. 1011),