This is a 9 row handmade purple and white clay Wampum belt woven onto Deerskin leather lacing in a traditional Eastern Woodlands design. The beaded part of the belt measures 34" long with 11" of fringe on each end making the total length 56" long. It's appx. 3 3/8" wide. Wampum belts were made to not be "perfect". There is one slight variation in this belt...can you spot the difference?!?! Traditionally, Wampum was only made by the women. Women made the beads and women wove the belts. In keeping with this indigenous tradition, this belt is hand woven by me and each and every one of the purple and white clay beads in this belt was handmade by me as well. I am a Native American artist, former Clan Mother and Tribal Council member of the Abenaki Clan of the Hawk in VT. Some of the proceeds of sales go to helping Native Elders with food and firewood. Custom orders are welcome! Wampum belts in genuine Wampum, clay and glass are my specialty! Wampum is the traditional shell bead of the Eastern Woodlands tribes of the indigenous people of North America. Wampum includes the white shell beads fashioned from the North Atlantic channeled whelk shell and the white & purple beads made from the quahog or Western North Atlantic hard-shelled clam. Wampum was used by the northeastern Native Americans as a symbol of wealth, power, treaty making, communication and a form of gift exchange.
