About Us: Unpacking the Treaties and Wampum Belts
Our Purpose
Our journey begins with foundational agreements that have shaped the relationship between Indigenous Nations and the evolving states of the United States and Canada. From the ancient wisdom of the Two Row Wampum to the critical provisions of the Jay Treaty and the symbolic power of the George Washington Belt, these instruments illuminate historical understandings of sovereignty, free movement, commerce, and land. Join us as we explore how these agreements, rooted in specific articles of U.S. treaties, continue to underscore the distinct rights and inherent nationhood of Indigenous peoples, particularly concerning their ability to live, trade, and move freely across what became the US-Canada border.
The Two Row Wampum (Guswenta)
At its core, the Two Row Wampum is a philosophy of co-existence. Forged in the 17th century between the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy) and European newcomers (primarily the Dutch), this wampum belt visually codifies a relationship of mutual respect and non-interference. Its two parallel rows of purple beads symbolize two distinct vessels – the Indigenous canoe and the European ship – traveling side-by-side down the River of Life. The white background and the three lines of white beads signify Peace, Friendship, and Respect, ensuring that neither party would try to steer the other's vessel or impose their laws or customs. This treaty emphasizes distinct sovereignty and the right to maintain separate identities while sharing the land. It is a foundational Indigenous perspective on nation-to-nation relations.
The Jay Treaty (Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, 1794)
Signed between Great Britain and the United States in 1794, the Jay Treaty was primarily aimed at resolving outstanding issues from the American Revolutionary War. Crucially for Indigenous peoples, particularly those with territories straddling the newly defined border, Article III of the treaty enshrined specific rights. It stipulated that "it shall at all times be free to His Majesty's subjects, and to the citizens of the United States, and also to the Indians dwelling on either side of the said boundary line, freely to pass and repass by land or inland navigation, into the respective territories and countries of the two parties, on the continent of America... and freely to carry on trade and commerce with each other."
This article explicitly recognized and protected Indigenous rights to free movement and commerce across the international border, acknowledging pre-existing Indigenous territories and trade routes. While the full implementation of this article has faced challenges over time, it remains a vital legal basis for Indigenous border crossing rights for many First Nations and Native American tribes today, affirming their inherent sovereignty and the right to free movement independent of the border.
The George Washington Belt & The Treaty of Canandaigua (1794)
The George Washington Belt (also known as the Canandaigua Treaty Belt or the Treaty of Pickering Belt) is a significant wampum belt that commemorates the Treaty of Canandaigua (1794) between the Haudenosaunee and the United States. This treaty, signed by President George Washington's representative, Timothy Pickering, aimed to establish peace and define the boundaries of Haudenosaunee lands after the American Revolution. The belt is distinctively large, featuring figures holding hands, symbolizing the enduring peace and friendship, and houses, representing the Haudenosaunee Longhouses and their people.
The Treaty of Canandaigua, commemorated by this belt, explicitly recognized the sovereignty of the Haudenosaunee over their remaining lands and affirmed their right to occupy them without interference.
The George Washington Belt & The Treaty of Canandaigua (1794)
The George Washington Belt (also known as the Canandaigua Treaty Belt or the Treaty of Pickering Belt) is a significant wampum belt that commemorates the Treaty of Canandaigua (1794) between the Haudenosaunee and the United States. This treaty, signed by President George Washington's representative, Timothy Pickering, aimed to establish peace and define the boundaries of Haudenosaunee lands after the American Revolution. The belt is distinctively large, featuring figures holding hands, symbolizing the enduring peace and friendship, and houses, representing the Haudenosaunee Longhouses and their people.
The Treaty of Canandaigua, commemorated by this belt, explicitly recognized the sovereignty of the Haudenosaunee over their remaining lands and affirmed their right to occupy them without interference.
Article II of the treaty states: "The United States having thus described and acknowledged what lands belong to the Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas , and engaged never to claim the same, nor to disturb them [meaning the Six Nations as a whole Confederacy], or any [one] of the Six Nations, or their Indian friends residing thereon and united with the Six Nations in their antient possessions." This solidifies promises concerning land rights and non-interference by the United States, further reinforcing the concept of Indigenous nations as distinct entities.
Our Story & Roots: The Intertwined Paths of Treaty and WampumThe stories of the Two Row Wampum, the Jay Treaty, and the George Washington Belt are deeply intertwined, reflecting a continuum of Indigenous diplomatic efforts to secure their rights and maintain their distinct identity in the face of colonial expansion. Critically, early U.S. treaties contain articles that explicitly acknowledge and promise non-interference with Indigenous nations.
The Two Row Wampum established the earliest framework for coexistence – a vision of distinct nations operating in parallel. This principle of non-interference and mutual respect laid the groundwork for future agreements, emphasizing Indigenous sovereignty over their territories and ways of life.
Following the American Revolution, the nascent United States government engaged in a series of treaties with various Indigenous nations, often containing articles that mirrored the spirit of non-interference. For example:
Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1784): While a treaty primarily focused on establishing peace and boundaries after the Revolution, it recognized the Six Nations' land claims and implied a level of non-disturbance as the U.S. "gives peace" and "receives them into their protection" on certain conditions related to their lands. Though some interpretations differ on its impact, it was an early articulation of boundaries.
Treaty of Hopewell (1785) with the Cherokee: This treaty explicitly stated in Article IV that if "any citizen of the United States shall attempt to settle on any of the lands within that boundary [allotted to the Cherokees], he shall forfeit the protection of the United States, and such citizen shall be liable to be punished by the Cherokees." This article directly imposed a consequence for U.S. citizens disturbing Cherokee lands, acting as a powerful non-interference clause. Furthermore, Article XI affirmed that the Cherokee Nation's territory was "not within the jurisdiction of either of the states or territorial districts of the United States."
Treaty of Greenville (1795): Concluding the Northwest Indian War, this treaty established a "general boundary line" and, in Article V, explicitly stated that the Indian tribes "are to have and to hold the lands" within their boundaries and that "the United States will relinquish all claim to the same." It further detailed that "no citizen of the United States shall be permitted to reside on the lands of the said Indian tribes" without permission, underlining a commitment to respecting Indigenous land ownership and restricting U.S. encroachment.