CultureAugust 27, 2026
wampum
WOM-pum
Definition
Traditional belts or strings of cylindrical beads made from shells, used by Indigenous peoples of North America to record treaties, agreements, and oral histories.
Etymology
The word originates from the Narragansett (an Algonquian language) word 'wampumpeag,' meaning 'white string of shell beads.' It was adopted into English colonial usage in the 17th century to describe the shell beads used for currency and record-keeping.
In the news
In the article, wampum refers to specific belts like the Two Row and the Covenant Chain that serve as physical, living records of ethical and political relationships between the Haudenosaunee and settlers.
Two Row goes beyond a legal, political framework to a way to share the River of Life
Read the full article ↗Windspeaker.com