Algonquian
Wampum
/WOM-pum/
Wampum transcends mere adornment, representing the finely crafted shell beads of the Eastern Woodlands Native Americans, meticulously fashioned from the lustrous columella of the whelk and the vibrant purple and white of the quahog clam. These sacred beads were intricately woven into belts, serving as living documents for treaties, conveying profound diplomatic messages, and authenticating leadership. Far more than currency, wampum embodied a complex system of spiritual, political, and historical communication, forging bonds of trust and recording the collective memory of Indigenous nations.
Lit. string or bead
Wampum is used to refer to the physical shell beads themselves, as well as the historical and cultural systems they represent, particularly in discussions of Indigenous diplomacy, trade, and governance.