10/12/2026
In May, we had the privilege of attending a summit in Liverpool featuring Potawatomi botanist, author, conservationist, and environmentalist Robin Wall Kimmerer and a talk about the Naagan ge bezhig emkwaan, or 'Dish with One Spoon,' treaty wampum, made from traditional shell beads circa 1701. The treaty reflects a relationship between the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Confederacy, emphasizing peaceful coexistence and shared responsibility for the land. Kimmerer describes it as “the oldest international sustainability treaty in the world.” Though we only experienced the wampum through photographs, the talk was a meaningful opportunity to learn and reflect on reciprocity, environmental preservation, and caring for the natural world. We’re grateful to have been part of this experience!
NOTE: The original wampum was repatriated from the Royal Ontario Museum in 1999, and is now in the custody of The Six Nations of Grand River.
