THE WAMPUM BELT

 The Wampum Belt,  also called Peag:

Beads made from the interior parts of  shells often  were worked into belts and necklaces. 

Formerly used as currency by North American Indians, the beads were either black, dark purple and white. The dark Beads had double the value of the white.

From the archives of FNI website:

The Newfoundland Native Women Association gave a presentation to the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) Board of Directors at the Holiday Inn on September 21, 2002. It was of cultural significance to the Mi’kmaq people,which made the presentation all that much more meaningful.

The president of the Newfoundland Native Women Association, Ms. Dorothy George, gave the Board of Directors a brief background of how the project originated. 

Doreen Swyers spoke to the directors about the Wampum belt which was made by many Mi’kmaq people under the direction of an elder Ms.Jessie Alexander (Nee Muise).

The belt represents the plight of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians for the past 30 years in their attempt to

obtain federal recognition with the Department of Indian & Northern Affairs on behalf of the Mi’Kmaqmembership.

It reminded us of the struggle of the Mi’kmaq people to get to where we are today and it refreshed the hopes the Mi’kmaq people have for  tomorrow.

Ms. Alexander presented Brendan Sheppard, president of the FNI, with the belt. Mr. Sheppard thanked her and all

those involved and praised them on their cultural and creative idea displayed in the Wampum Belt.

The belt consisted of aboriginal symbolism to demonstrate aboriginal culture from the beginning of time through

today.

Sheppard vowed to keep the belt and preserve it for future generations to come ,to ensure people can see and understand the Mi’kmaq people’s way of life of yesterday and today.

Pictures to follow...Pikto'l..

This is the picture of the Wampum Belt.

Holding the belt  (from left) is ELDER VICTOR  MUISE, ANCIENT SPIRIT  OF  THE WHITE  WOLF .

The ELDER is a teacher , speaker, activist,  Shaman, Spiritual Warrior, and Leader.

Also present are the Elder's sister, Doreen, his Aunt Jessie,  Brenden Shepard , and Dorothy George