The Circle Wampum
The Iroquois Confederacy is represented by the circle of wampum. Chiefs of the original five nations are represented by the 50 strands, each of these strands are bound together showing the strength of unity among the chiefs. The longer of these strands is named for the 7th Onondaga chief Hononwiyendeh, and is appointed keeper of all other records of the league. During the American Revolutionary war a Mohawk warrior named Dewaserageh(Two Axe) was the keeper of this partuclar wampum circle. He took this and other wampum and placed them in a brass kettle that he buried beside the Osagundaga creek which runs into the Mohawk river. It stayed hidden there until the revolutionary war was over. Mohawks returned and dug it up and carried it with them to the Grand river lands where it was used to renew the council fires of the five nations. The circle was then returned to the hereditary keeper.
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