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• First Nations culture (12)
• History of the Thirteen Colonies (57)
• Native American culture (31)

Encyclopedia: Wampum

Wampum is a string of white shell beads fashioned from the North Atlantic channeled whelk (Busycotypus canaliculatus) shell, and is traditionally used by Indigenous Americans, First Nations peoples, Native Americans, hobbyists, business people, and traders, who regarded it as a sacred or trade representative of the value of the artist's work. Wampum is also used for engagement, marriage, and betrothal agreements, as well as for ceremony and condolence ceremonies. The white shell beads of the whelk symbolized internal energies of peace, harmony, and contentment. Wampum is often confused with Sewant, which symbolized the outside energies of a system. Wampum beads (white) are made from the channeled whelk shell. Sewant beads (black or dark purple) are made from the Poquahock, commonly known as the quahog, quahaug, or Western North Atlantic hard-shelled clam.

Translations

How to say "Wampum" in other languages:

	(German)	Wampum
	(Spanish)	Wampum
	(French)	Wampum

Search results

Beadwork patterns

Beadwork patterns come in a variety of styles and colors. Most Native American Tribes have their own histories as to when they first used beads. Wampum, were used in the early Colonial days, in the Eastern U.S. Wampum were a type of shell, used to decorate and adorn clothing, and were also used...

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Narragansett

USA from canada, west to the mississippi river, and south into florida. Wampum has been the main...

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Coat of Arms of New Brunswick

of royal authority. The supporters are white-tailed deer collared with Maliseet friendship wampum... collar of Maliseet wampum, proper and pendant an escutcheon, that to the dexter bearing our union badge...

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1640s in Canada

Wampum Peace treaty, 1680. 1649: Attacks by the Iroquois disperse the Huron; disrupts fur trade over...

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Bedford, New York

and several other Indians for coats, blankets, wampum and cloth. Bedford was made a part of...

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List of English words of Native American origin

/life wampum ( wapapyaki ) trade good succotash ( msikwatash ) food mixed together pecan ("pakan...

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Quahog

...

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1650s in Canada

members of the Mahican confederation. English, pleased with this, agree to Two-Row Wampum Peace treaty...

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1600s in Canada

Membertou, who converts to Catholicism, makes a wampum-belt treaty with the Vatican. 1605: Samuel de...

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Algonquian

(tomah'hauk) sharp biting stick tomato (tomah'toh) sharp biting berry wampum (wapapyaki) trade good...

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