Even in those days wampum was sometimes worn as jewellery as well as being used to pay for items bought from someone else. It seems that even two totally different forms of currency had similarities, even when they existed so far apart in a more primitive world. This belt is the national belt of the Haudenosaunee. This may have been partly due to the fact that the world was still a confusing place when it came to money; different areas had different currencies and various types of coins were arriving on new continents and being created by different people all the time. It records the five original nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and their agreement to live together in peace. The word wampum is derived from the word wampumpeg, which was eventually changed to wampum by those who used it. Wampum is a Native American term for “trade”, and was originally used by natives for both trade and ceremonial purposes. This term also refers specifically to beads which have been strung, not to loose shell beads. The parallel paths represent the rules governing the behaviour of the Aboriginal and European peoples. What are the Characteristics of Apache Clothing? There are some fascinating facts about wampum that are intriguing to read about – not least the fact that some people actually started making counterfeit wampum to try and cash in on its popularity. What’s the difference in intrinsic value between, One aim is to raise awareness about the missing, The Iroquois documented the border on their, Grinding corn and making No-Ke-Hick to eat, making, Look at the aboriginal ways, from visual expression to the, Post the Definition of wampum to Facebook, Share the Definition of wampum on Twitter. The use of wampum in America reached its height in the 1640s, but perhaps surprisingly for a currency which had real value in itself (as a commodity currency) it soon began to go into decline. Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way. Native American history is told through oral tradition and wampums only helped to enhance these stories and make sure that the people associated with the wampum … Each of the figures are linked by a wampum belt to form a chain of friendship which represents the alliance between the United States and the Haudenosaunee confederacy. It is very hard to keep an oral history and having aids like wampums help immensely in telling the traditons and history of the tribe, so I would think that they would be in tremendous demand and that tribes would want to have many of them for all the stories associated with the tribe. The three white stripes symbolize friendship, peace, and respect between the two nations. Wampum has a special significance to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people. In particular, the Two Row Wampum Belt (Kaswentha) of the Haudenosaunee, still symbolizes an agreement of mutual respect and peace between themselves and European newcomers (initially the Dutch) to North America. As a foundational philosophical principle of respect and friendship, the Belt may be able to function as a framework for improved relations between Aboriginal peoples and various levels of government. pum. Wampum belts are belts made using wampum beads whose origins can be traced back to Hiawatha, a pre-colonial aboriginal leader. Contrary to misconceptions, wampum was not "indian money." The word wampum is derived from the word wampumpeg, which was eventually changed to wampum by those who used it. (wŏm′pəm, wôm′-) n. 1. Wampum could also be used as a gift at weddings and other types of social gatherings. Posted by Allison on 6 April 2009, 14:55. exciting challenge of being a wiseGEEK researcher and writer. These tubular beads could be strung in simple strings, or more ornate belts, some of which were woven for extra strength. It had a social value as well. But it was during the founding of the Confederacy that Aiionwatha (Hiawatha) introduced wampum in the way that it is currently being used by the Haudenosaunee. Wampum was generally seen in two colours – white and dark purple, depending on what type of shell the wampum had come from. Explorers would usually present a wampum to the local Indians and this would indicate that they were aware of their culture and willing to be friendly to them. Since wampum is generally made into small bead like pieces, counterfeit wampum could be easily made by someone who had the skill to do so. “Wampum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wampum. ». What made you want to look up wampum? The fact that wampum could be worn as a necklace around the neck brings to mind the Chinese coins with holes in them, which could be threaded onto string and worn in a similar manner. However, the problem that emerged was that the Native Americans would have to trade pelts or money for the wampum, which was something they were hesitant to do. A wampum is a string of white shell beads. Archeaological evidence shows that wampum was in use by the Haudenosaunee in the period before the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The Kaswentha stipulates that neither group will force their laws, traditions, customs or language on each other, but will coexist peacefully as each group follows their own path. The Europeans introduced the concept of utilizing the shell beads as money, leading to the common misperception that shells were a form of currency among Native American tribes. Wampum, tubular shell beads that have been assembled into strings or woven into belts or embroidered ornaments, formerly used as a medium of exchange by some North American Indians.