Treaties Recognition Week

Treaties Recognition Week takes place annually from November 3 to 9. This week is an opportunity to reflect on the significance of Treaties in local history and ongoing relationships with Indigenous communities.

The City of Waterloo commissioned three replica Wampum belts: The Hiawatha, The Two-Row and The Dish with One Spoon. In June, Kahlunyunti (Martin Powless) of Oneida Nation of the Thames, the artist who recreated the belts, presented the belts to Council and provided some teaching on their history.

These belts are a physical representation of the oral history of treaties and settlement of the area around the Great Lakes Region extending along a portion of the St. Lawrence River, which we call home. These are significant representations of our colonial history and are still seen today as a reminder of the responsibilities we hold as treaty people.

The Wampum belts are currently on display in the lobby of Waterloo City Hall.

As we continue to reflect on Treaty rights and relationships, we must commit to honouring these agreements and understanding their impact on the lives of Indigenous peoples today. This is essential for Reconciliation and ensuring that Indigenous voices are recognized and respected in discussions that affect their rights and territories.

Together, we can build a future grounded in respect and collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

About the three Wampum belts

The Hiawatha Wampum (year 1100 approx.): Depicts and describes the formation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy under a pledge of peace and understanding between the five nations comprising the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and Mohawk tribes.

The Two-Row Wampum (year 1613 approx.): Describes the relationship between the incoming colonizing peoples and Indigenous peoples. Specifically, between the Mohawks and the Dutch colonizers, moving forward together in parallel, but never merging, signifying respect for each other’s rights.

The Dish with One Spoon Wampum (year 1701 but could be the same age as Hiawatha Wampum): Describes an agreement for sharing hunting territory among two or more First Nation. There is a recognition that all Peoples are eating out of a single dish, that is, all hunting in the shared territory. One spoon signifies that all Peoples sharing the territory are expected to limit the game they take to leave enough for others and for the continued abundance and viability of the hunting grounds into the future.