Two-Row Wampum

Kaswentha / Guswenta / Two-Row Wampum

History

The 1613 treaty, the first treaty between Indigenous peoples and Europeans, was recorded by the Haudenosaunee in a wampum belt known as the Two Row Wampum. The pattern of the belt consists of two rows of purple wampum beads against a background of white beads. The purple beads signify the courses of two vessels -- an Indigenous canoe and a European ship -- traveling down the river of life together, parallel but never touching. The three white stripes denote peace, friendship, and respect. This wampum records the meaning of the agreement, which declared peaceful coexistence between Indigenous peoples (the Haudenosaunee) and Europeans (Dutch settlers in the area).

Haudenosaunee tradition also records the specific meaning of the belt as follows, in the form of a Haudenosaunee reply to the initial Dutch treaty proposal:

"You say that you are our Father and I am your son. We say, We will not be like Father and Son, but like Brothers. This wampum belt confirms our words. These two rows will symbolize two paths or two vessels, traveling down the same river together. One, a birch bark canoe, will be for the [Indigenous peoples], their laws, their customs and their ways. The other, a ship, will be for the [European peoples] and their laws, their customs and their ways. We shall each travel the river together, side by side, but in our boat. Neither of us will make compulsory laws or interfere in the internal affairs of the other. Neither of us will try to steer the other's vessel."

The agreement has been kept by the Indigenous peoples to this date.

The treaty is considered by Haudenosaunee people to still be in effect. Further Haudenosaunee tradition states the duration of the Two Row Wampum agreement:

"As long as the Sun shines upon this Earth, that is how long OUR Agreement will stand; Second, as long as the Water still flows; and Third, as long as the Grass Grows Green at a certain time of the year. Now we have Symbolized this Agreement and it shall be binding forever as long as the Earth is still in motion."

Reference: Wikipedia: Two Row Wampum