Wampum Belts and Indigenous Cultures Quiz

True or false: Wampum beads were primarily worn as jewelry by the Haudenosaunee people?

True or false: The Hiawatha belt represents the five original Haudenosaunee nations?

True or false: The two-row belt represents the alliance between the Haudenosaunee and the French?

True or false: The great tree of peace symbolizes the Onondaga nation?

True or false: The Dutch were one of the first European groups to settle in the area in the 1600s?

Wampum Beads and Belts

Indians made beads from white and purple quahog shells through a difficult process of carving and hollowing them out with a bow drill.
These beads, called wampum, were woven into belts to represent treaties, meetings with other cultures, and important stories of their history.

Hiawatha Belt

The Hiawatha Belt is the most famous wampum belt, representing the five original Haudenosaunee nations that Hiawatha helped unite.
The five nations, from west to east across New York, are the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk.

The Tree of Peace

The tree in the center of the Hiawatha Belt represents the Onondaga nation and the Great Tree of Peace.
The Great Tree of Peace is a symbol of where leaders of the five nations buried their weapons.

Two-Row Belt

The Two-Row Belt features two parallel lines representing two boats sailing down a river.
One boat represents the Haudenosaunee, and the other boat represents the Dutch, one of the first European groups to settle in the area in the 1600s.
The belt symbolizes the relationship between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch.

Test your knowledge of Native American history with this quiz about the significance of wampum belts in indigenous cultures. Learn about the intricate process of creating wampum beads and their use in representing treaties and historical stories. Explore the famous Hiawatha belt and its symbolic design.