Featured Wampum #2: Wampum Circle

Rotinonshón:ni Teiotiokwaonháston (Mohawk – pronounced Ro-dee-no-SHON-nee Day-yo-dyo-gwa-on-HASS-don) – ‘It Circle the People’

The Circle is a common symbol of the Haudenosaunee as it represents the continuous cycle of life. When the Confederacy was formed by the Peacemaker, this special set of wampum strings was assembled. This Circle Wampum is a metaphor for being born Haudenosaunee. It is also holds the fifty titles bestow on the Chiefs. The Tuscarora, which joined by 1720 have additional Chief’s titles.

Chiefs Titles

8 Seneca Chiefs

– Wolf Clan – Dyoninho’ga’we’
– Bear Clan – Sadyenawat
– Turtle Clan – Ga’nogae & Sganyadeae:yo
– Snipe Clan – Ganohgi’da:wi & Nishayene<nha Tsa’degaohyes
– Hawk Clan – Sag,’jo:wa

10 Cayuga Chiefs

– Wolf Clan – Deyotowehgoh & Dyohyo:goh
– Bear Clan – Desgahe & Soyo:wi:s & Gada:gwa:se & Haga’e,yok
– Turtle Clan – Hagya;drohne
– Snipe Clan – Deyohowe:to
– Heron Clan – Hadoda:he:ha’
– Deer Clan – Gaji’nodawehe

14 Onondaga Chiefs

– Wolf Clan – Honowiyehdi & Awe’ge,hyat & Gane’se:he:
– Turtle Clan – Sganawadih & Dehayatgwae
– Hawk Clan – Hoyo:ny,nih:
– Deer Clan – Se,:ha:wi: & Hahi:hoh & Honya’daji:wak & Gawe,ne,se,:doh
– Beaver – Dehatgahdos
– Eel – Sagoge,he: & Sodegwa:se
– Tadodahoh (has no clan)

9 Oneida Chiefs

– Wolf Clan – Hodatsehdeh & Ganohgwe’yo:doh & Deyoha’gwe:de
– Bear Clan – Dehadahohde:yo & Hanya’dasa:ye & Howatsadehoh
– Turtle Clan – Sonohse:s & Thanahak tha & Atya’tantha

9 Mohawk Chiefs

– Wolf Clan – Sahrehowaneh & Deyonhehgiveh & Orenrehgowah
– Bear Clan – Dehharagereneh & Rastawehserondah & Sosskoharowaneh
– Turtle Clan – Tehkarihoken & Ayonwatha & Sadekariwadeh

Tuscarora Chiefs

– Wolf Clan – Nâio`kâwe’’?‘ (Nayohkawehha) & Neiotch?’k’doñ‘ (Nayonchakden)
– Bear Clan – Näkäiěñ”těⁿ‘ (Nakayendenh) & Utäkwä‘kwa‘těⁿ’a‘ (Dehgwadehha) & Ioněñtchâněñ’’nakěⁿ‘ (Nehchanenagon)
– Turtle Clan – Sagwaritha (Sekwari:Ѳre) & Ni`hawěñna’’a‘ & Hotio`kwawa’kěⁿ‘
– Beaver Clan – Kari`hěn’tiä’ (Karinyentya) & Ni`hno`ka’wä’ (Nehnokaweh) & Näka`hěñwa‘’ç‘hěñ (Nehkahehwathea)
– Snipe Clan – Karoñdawa’’kěⁿ‘ (Karihdawagen) & Thanädak’hwa’ (Thanadakgwa)

Wampum Circle Photo