CULTURE AND TRADITION

In 1613, the importance of the Two Row Wampum with the Haudenosaunee was first established by the  Kanien’kehá:ka, and today, the Two Row Wampum is still considered as living Treaty Agreement among our people; a way that the Iroquois have established for their people to live together in peace; that each nation will respect the ways of the other as they meet to discuss solutions to the issues that come before them. The Two Row Wampum is one of the oldest treaty relationships between the Onkwehonweh (original people) of Turtle Island (North America) and European immigrant settlers.

Hundreds of years ago, it was decided that the Haudenosaunee and the Europeans must have a way to greet each other when they meet. The settlers with their large sailed boat thought that they should be called “Father” and the Haudenosaunee “Son.” The Haudenosaunee said that this would not do. “We shall address each other as ‘Brothers.’ This shows that we are equal to each other.”

As the Haudenosaunee and settlers discovered much about each other, an agreement was made as to how they were to treat each other and live together. Each of their ways would be shown in the purple rows running the length of a wampum belt. “In one row is a ship with our White Brothers’ ways; in the other a canoe with our ways. Each will travel down the river of life side by side. Neither will attempt to steer the other’s vessel.”

Historically, the Haudenosaunee explained to settlers that they did not use paper to record their history. The Haudenosaunee would make belts made of white and purple wampum shells. The Haudenosaunee made a belt to record an agreement. The belt has two purple rows running alongside each other representing two boats. One boat is the canoe with the Haudenosaunee way of life, laws, and people. The other is the ship with their laws, religion, and people in it. The boats will travel side by side down the river of life. Each nation will respect the ways of each other and will not interfere with the other. “Together we will travel in Friendship and in Peace Forever; as long as the grass is green, as long as the water runs downhill, as long as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, and as long as our Mother Earth will last.” 

The Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign was a partnership to develop a broad alliance between the Haudenosaunee and their allies in New York and throughout the world. The 400th anniversary of the Two Row Wampum Treaty, advocacy and educational campaign sought to polish the chain of friendship established by the Two Row (between the Haudenosaunee and immigrants) and continued with the French, British, and United States. Environmental cleanup and preservation were the core components of our campaign. To Learn More:  Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign | Honoring Native Treaties | Protecting the Earth (honorthetworow.org) 

In the Haudenosaunee culture, the strawberry is considered a gift from the Creator and the first berry of the season holds a special place for the Tuscarora Band of Six Nations Indians. The earliest of the sweet red berries are celebrated with a special ceremony in mid-June and the fruit holds the distinction of being the  name for June – Awʌ́hihte’ (a-WUH-heat). 

The Tuscarora Band of Six Nations Indians use strawberries in many ways and often flavor just about all foods and drinks with them come early summer. Some are eaten immediately; some are mashed and mixed with corn to make strawberry bread and some are mashed and dried in strips (sometimes called “strawberry leather”) to be used later in cooking or to eat alone. The juice, or “strawberry water,” is known to promote health and well-being and is a feature of various ceremonies. Medicinal teas also can be made from the leaves and roots of the plant, helping to heal such ailments as diarrhea and inflamed, achy joints.