Press Release: Haudenosaunee Grand Council Endorsement
Link to pdf: Native Peoples and Allies Plan Campaign to Honor the Two Row Wampum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2013
For More Information
Andy Mager, Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign, 315-701-1592 or 315-559-7058
Onondaga Nation Communications Office, 315-492-1922
Native Peoples and Allies Plan Campaign to
Renew the Two Row Wampum
400-year-old treaty for peace and friendship
to be marked with educational events and historic canoe trip
January 14, 2013—Syracuse, NY—The Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign, a statewide educational initative throughout 2013, announced the formal endorsement of the campaign by the Haudenosaunee Grand Council today. The campaign was initiated by Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation, a project of the Syracuse Peace Council, and developed in partnership with the Onondaga Nation and members of other Haudenosaunee nations.
The Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign promotes understanding and respect for the Native Nations to which we are all neighbors, and our common obligation to protect the environment, by holding educational events throughout the year and an epic canoe trip on the Hudson River to celebrate a 400-year-old treaty that forms the basis of diplomatic relations between the Haudenosaunee and the United States to this day.
“The Haudenosaunee see the Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign as a valuable tool to raise awareness and knowledge of this historic agreement,” the Grand Council statement reads. “…this Wampum is called the Grandfather of all treaties as it established protocol for future agreements…”
The kickoff event will be held in Syracuse on February 11, 2013 at Syracuse Stage. Events will be held around the state featuring Haudenosaunee speakers covering a range of topics from history to hydrofracking, social dancing and other cultural sharing. The highlight of the campaign will be a thirteen day trip down the Hudson River from July 28 to August 9, 2013 with Haudenosaunee and allies paddling side-by-side from Albany to NYC, enacting the imagery depicted by the Two Row Wampum, the Haudenosaunee documentation of the treaty.
The Two Row Wampum belt has three rows of white and two rows of purple beads made from quahog clam shells. One purple row represents the Haudenosaunee in their canoes and the other represents the Europeans in their ships, each carrying their way of life, culture and government (thus the Two Row Wampum).
Jake Edwards of the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs explains the significance of the Two Row Wampum to people in New Paltz in November 2012.
“In the Two Row, we agreed that we will travel the river of life together, side-by-side,” explains Jake Edwards, of the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs. “One line represents a canoe carrying our laws, culture, language, government, and way of life; the other line represents the same for those who have come to this land. We will not try to steer each others’ boats, but travel side by side linked by peace, friendship, and forever, respecting the laws of our mother earth, natural law.”
“The concepts explained in the Two Row Wampum are not only the basis for all of the subsequent treaties between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch, French, English, and Americans, they provide a model for relations between our peoples in the modern era,” suggests Lindsay Speer of Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation. “Treaties are made by two peoples; we represent the other side of the treaty now. The Haudenosaunee are still here, and deserve our respect and understanding. This campaign is about the present and future relations between our peoples.”
“We urge governments such as the United States and Canada to ‘polish the Covenant Chain’ that binds this agreement and provides a process to work as Brothers to resolve our issues such as jurisdiction, land, water, treaty rights, self-governance and peace between all nations and Mother Earth,” the Grand Council statement explains.
Organizing for the Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign has been underway for over a year in, acquiring over 60 co-sponsoring organizations and attracting an Honorary Advisory Committee including Jane Goodall, Joanna Macy, Bill McKibben, Leonard Peltier, Pete Seeger, Suzan Shown Harjo, Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor, Onondaga County Executive Joanne Mahoney, and Haudenosaunee leaders.
August 2012 “trial run” participants on the Hudson River.
Events are being planned for Albany, Rochester, NYC, Ithaca, and other locations throughout the state, particularly along the Hudson River. Organizations throughout NY are encouraged to help plan further events. The current schedule of events can be found on their website www.honorthetworow.org.
“People can show their support for the campaign by organizing events, volunteering, signing up to paddle, spreading the word, or donating,” encouraged Andy Mager, the Project Coordinator for the campaign. People interested in paddling during the enactment, planned for July 29-August 9, are asked to register by the end of January.
You can follow the progress of the campaign on Facebook or Twitter @HonorTheTwoRow. More events will be added as the year progresses. Updated schedules will be available at www.honorthetworow.org.
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