The Hiawatha wampum belt tells the story of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s legendary founding and Wampum’s power to heal. In this sacred story, a warrior named Hiawatha who meets a prophet called the Peacemaker and becomes his student. Hiawatha pays the price for this alliance: the evil warlord, Tadodaho, takes his daughters in retaliation. Hiawatha is incredibly sad and finds solace in white shells, called Wampum. The ritual of healing with Wampum, called a Condolence Ceremony, is still practiced by Haudenosaunee today.

Along their journey together, Hiawatha and the Peacemaker meet with the chiefs of the Oneida, Cayuga, Mohawk, and Seneca, unifying the nations into a single Grand Council. The Onondaga, led by the evil Tadodaho, refuse to join. Clan mother Jigonsaseh helps Tadodaho accept the message of peace, bringing unity to the five nations. The Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and Mohawk weave their single Wampum strands into one belt, bury their weapons of war beneath a large Tree or Peace, so ending a period of conflict.