Dish with One Spoon
A concept developed by the Indigenous peoples of the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America. It was used to describe how land can be shared to the mutual benefit of all its inhabitants. It was often mentioned by Indigenous peoples while making treaties with one another to avoid violent conflict.
- “dish” represents the land that is to be shared peacefully
- “spoon” represents the individuals living on and using the resources of the land in the spirit of mutual cooperation.
Wampum
The word comes from a Narragansett (Algonquian language family) word meaning a string of white shell beads
They are tubular beads manufactured from Atlantic coast seashells. While a variety of shells may be used, most often the white shells are formed from the whelk shell and the purple from the quahog clam shell
