Wampum Belts of the Iroquois

By Tehanetorens

Continued from last week

Record of Chiefs of Mohawk Nation

Mohawk Clan Chieftainship wampum Strings are a record of the leaders of the Mohawk Nation. The Keeper of this record was of the Wolf Clan, whose title is Sarenhowane. There should be similar records of the other nations of the original Iroquois states.

The Mohawk Nation has nine chiefs, thus the nine strings in this record. The small string of wampum uniting them symbolizes that the chiefs shall all be of one mind. The nine wampum strings are in three groups representing the three clans of the Mohawk Nation: the Turtle Clan, the Wolf Clan, and the Bear Clan. Each clan is represented at the Mohawk Council by three chiefs. The string standing for the first Chief of each clan is of white wampum only. Two purple wampum among the white represents the Second Chief, and the string representing the Third Chief has three purple wampum. The wampum strings lay with the all-white string on the left and read left to right:

Turtle Clan

1st Chief: Tekarihoken (The Mediator)

2nd Chief: Ayonwatha (Hiawatha) (He Who Combs)

3rd Chief: Satekaiwate (The Clear Thinker)

Wolf Clan

1st Chief: Sarenhowane (Majestic Tree)

2nd Chief: Teyonhekwen (He Who Has Two Lives)

3rd Chief: Orenrekowa (Great Limb on a Tree

Bear Clan

1st Chief: Tehanakarine (He Who Drags Horns)

2nd Chief: Ostawenserentha (He Hangs up The Rattles)

3rd Chief: Soskoharowane (A Great Bush)

It is provided thus: The Council of the Mohawks shall be divided into three parties: Tekarihoken, Ayonwatha (Hiawatha), and Satekariwate are the first. Sarenhowane, Teyonhekwen, and Orenrekowa are the second. Tehanakarine, Ostawenserenta, and Soskoharowane are the third. The third party is to listen only to the discussion of the first and second parties. If an error is made, or the proceeding irregular, they are to call attention to it, and when the case is right and properly decided by the two parties, they shall confirm the decision of the two parties and refer the case to the Seneca statesmen for their decision. When the Seneca statesmen have decided, in accord with the Mohawk Statesman, the case or question shall be referred to the Cayuga and Oneida Statesmen of the opposite side of the house.

It is provided thus: In all cases of passing a law, the procedure must be as follows: When the Mohawk and Seneca Chiefs have agreed unanimously upon a question, they report their decision to the Cayuga and Oneida Chiefs who shall council upon the question and report a unanimous decision to the Mohawk Chiefs. The Mohawk Chiefs then report the decision on the case to the Firekeepers (Onondaga) who shall render a decision as they see fit in case of a disagreement by the two bodies, or confirm the decision to the Mohawk Chiefs who announce it to the open council.

Continued...