Despite popular belief, wampum was not used as money by the Native Americans.  It was used as money only by the colonists.  Wampum is a symbol of the founding of the Iroquois Confederacy.  If a person tried to deliver a message without the wampum they were not often believed.  The wampum gave authority to the messenger and often had a story woven into it.  Therefore the wampum helped the reader know what the story was about.

    Wampum beads were made from mussels shells.  They were woven on a loom using sinew for thread.  Longer or more important messages were woven into a belt.  The dark wampum signifies sorrow or a serious message.

Click on the picture to learn how to make your own wampum.