How to Make a Native American Wampum Belt

Wampanoag means 'People of the First Light.' For thousands of years, this coastal Atlantic tribe saw the first light of dawn over the North American continent. The word wampum is just as timeless. A tremendous amount of labor is involved in cutting and drilling small cylindrical 'wampum' beads out of quahog shells. For generations, the labor invested in producing these beads gave them an intrinsic value to native people. Tribes throughout Eastern North America regularly exchanged fabulously decorated belts as peace offerings or traded individual beads as currency.
Beaded straps and belts, like the one produced in this video, were popular among frontiersmen and native peoples across the frontier. There are many cases of frontiersmen who were friends of a Native American tribe being given a belt to provide passage throughout tribal territories. The arrival of the European settler brought glass and machined metal beads to the frontier trading cycle. Initially, importing these materials from Europe was very costly, and they were rarely traded to American Indians. Once an industrial infrastructure developed in North America these trade goods became cheaper and more available. Though wampum beads retained their value, glass and shiny metals were more attractive, and wampum slowly fell out of popularity among most American Indians.
It is an honor to teach beadwork, a skill that has been threatened by modern convenience for several hundred years, in a medium that will live on forever.
00:00 - Introduction
00:27 - Materials & Considerations
03:41 - Planning
04:22 - Stringing A Loom
06:52 - Threading Your First Row
10:39 - Timelapse Part 1
11:58 - Rolling Down The Loom
15:05 - Timelapse Part 2
22:19 - Correcting Mistakes
24:52 - Timelapse Part 3
28:40 - Finishing & End Leatherwork
30:31 - Conclusion
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[@FrontierTradingCompany]

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[@wareagle3064]

That was really good

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

@@wareagle3064 Thanks for watching, I appreciate the comment!

[@MrEthanhines]

1.75x video speed comes in really handy for this video. Seriously though I am proud of your work and acknowledgement of the art passed to us colonizers via the Haudenosaunee people

[@denisdegamon8224]

I have been a buckskinner for over 36 years now. I am impressed with your work and outfit. I have done both lazy stitch and loom bead work in the past and your work is very good indeed. Keep at it and happy trails my friend.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thank you so much! Means a lot.

[@erikknight8040]

Native Americans in this time period would have had buckskin thong between each row and at the ends which prevents broken beads from cutting the waxed thread. I also made this project for my powder horn years ago using primitive techniques. All in all great job and welcome to beadwork!!!!

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Good tip, and thank you!

[@alaib31]

Perfect quarantine craft! Well done!

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks! Quarantine is definitely a good opportunity to pick up some new skills!

[@brothermike3389]

It's a good idea to wear your horn small end forward which puts weight down and to the rear.If you snag the plug and gets pulled out of the horn you will not drain your horn dry from spillage.Dont ask how I know....

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Haha, good insight! Thank you!

[@stovebolt50]

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing the howto, details, and your thoughts. Fine strap, inspiring.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

You bet, thanks for the comment!

[@JT-fl5ed]

Loving this channel.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks for watching!

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

😊nice. Thanks for sharing 😊

[@timlopes67]

Great job, it was very easy to follow and to understand the method of making the beaded belt. Definitely going to attempt to make one for my ammo bag thanks for the video keep up the great work and subscribed.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thank you for watching! Happy to hear you're planning on starting your own!

[@denisdegamon8224]

Loomed wampum belts attached to a leather backing makes for a real nice smooth bore fowler/ musket sling.

[@cierakitty]

Cleaning out an old attic in an abandoned house before they were going to just burn it down I found something that got me all excited. Wrapped in an old newspaper dated 1919 was a beaded American Indian breast plate (for lack of better name). I found it back in 1997. Even then it was still quite old, and I took it to a museum guy and he said it was the real thing quills and all, and the beads were glass. I mounted it on dark blue velvet and framed it, right next to my 3x3 framed arrowheads. When I went on a week vacation all had been stolen, even my buffalo robe, and other things. I knew full well who had taken the items, just could not prove it. Sure enough I was right, he talked too much to others. Never got my stuff back...but he did "pay" in other ways.

[@patstokes7040]

The man that stole your goods talked too much but at some point you "talked too much too" or he wouldn't have know you had that stuff. Word to the wise, if you value your belongings don't ever talk about them. You can't even tell your best friend as your best friends, friends aren't your friends.

[@cierakitty]

@@patstokes7040 And he wasn't afraid of my snakes either. Actually...my ex did it, and I found out later. No, I did not get my stiff back.....but he later told me and I quote..."You got me babe...right where it hurt". Let's just say his "69 Chevelle SS with the bored out engine and 411 pos. trac. rear end didn't run anymore for a long time.

[@tonyaharmon1383]

@@cierakitty Great Payback!!

[@custerkiller7670]

I'm totally doing this.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

It's a challenge, but it's very rewarding! Good Luck! Feel free to check back in for tips or advice!

[@tonyaharmon1383]

Love This Name!!

[@northeasternwoodsman2636]

You just made me order 40 dollars worth of wampum... Thanks hahaha

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Haha... enjoy! This is an expensive but rewarding hobby.

[@edwardfaversham8636]

My lad, you're grand. Keep it up! (outfit info would be appreciated)

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thank you, will do! I've got an outfit video on my list!

[@DoughboyWD]

You know this stuff you make is pretty good quality, have you ever considered selling some of this?

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

I have thought about it, but I've always thought I would like to build a bigger following first. I might phase into commissioning projects in the near future.

[@northeasternwoodsman2636]

How long was the thread on your needle?

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

It is VERY long (maybe 4x the length of your project or more) if you are using one piece to move through the whole thing!

[@jasonballard2117]

Can you put a link on where you got your materials so that I can buy them easily and you could become an affiliate to produce revenue from the sale. I need to start making clothes for my first rendezvous, if you could help me that would be great. I like your channel!!

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

That is a good idea. Until very recently I was in an interesting position in that regard… as a college student I was spending the absolute minimum that I could and compromising on quality. To post links to that supplies might box beginners in to buying the same poor quality materials with the impression they are getting quality… and I haven’t felt that I could link quality supplies without having used it myself! Like I said, this was only true until recently… I have switched instead to buying top quality, authentic supplies and materials as I come to the end of my college journey. The affiliate idea is a good one, I will definitely keep it in mind!

[@kelsey5870]

You've got the right idea but you're not exactly HA. I met you last week at Smoke and Fire and have been enjoying your channel! You would fit in OFBR which needs fresh young faces! DM me for more info, I'd love to talk wampum.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Hi Kelsey, I left you my email recently in the discussion section of your channel but wanted to follow up. The last time I was at Smoke and Fire there were some folks talking about waterproofing recipes and I would love to chat about that, too. You can get ahold of me easiest at [e-mail]

[@MartyVettel]

What size beads did you use for your project? Where did you purchase this wampum? Thank you!

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

These are 1cm x .5cm in diameter. I purchased them online from Crazy Crow Trading Post. You can get beads like these made of varying materials, all the way up to handmade quahog shells, depending on your budget. In my case, I ordered the smallest quantity of several types of beads from different sites online to compare. There are lots of simulations and materials (plastic, bone, etc) so it might pay to do a little looking before spending any money.

[@jaykirkley1570]

What do ya do with a drunken sailor,playing in the background. Cool.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Haha, you're the first one to recognize it! Thanks for watching :)

[@jaykirkley1570]

@@FrontierTradingCompany I'm kind of a 52 yr. old heavy metal rocker, I was having an insomniac moment, found frivolous fox ASMR and she was doing a pirate theme,and sang that song with others,it was the first time I've ever heared it,Damn cool,if ya ask me!!

[@jokokoko9397]

What is name of the knife you use in video?

[@jamesfeehan2683]

Where can the beads be bought? Do they make beads that aren’t completely solid one color and are more faithful to real wampum beads?

[@armyvet1423]

Hi, what size loom is that?

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

This is a standard size loom available at most all craft stores. A search online for "beading loom" will bring up the exact one you see in this video: www.google.com/search?q=beading+loom&ei=YOT-Yf_vNva_0PEP3tm_-Ak&ved=0ahUKEwj_n57Cuen1AhX2HzQIHd7sD58Q4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=beading+loom&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBAgAEEMyBQgAEJECMgUIABCRAjIFCAAQkQIyBQgAEIAEMgQIABBDMgUIABCABDIGCAAQBxAeMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BwgAEEcQsAM6CggAEEcQsAMQyQNKBAhBGABKBAhGGABQ3wtY3wtgxQ5oBHACeACAAZMBiAGTAZIBAzAuMZgBAKABAcgBCMABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz

[@armyvet1423]

Thk you.

[@teresas2249]

doe anyone know how id start a pair of doggy moccinsones

[@ryandavis2928]

where’s the winter moccasins video no where to be found

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Sometimes I refer to videos that I have not yet released… in this case that video is still in the works! Sorry for the inconvenience and I realize this might sound like a strange/confusing practice - I suppose I have a little too much of a long term vision for the channel and I think of it as more developed than it is.

[@ryandavis2928]

@@FrontierTradingCompany i appreciate the response brother, i’m making myself a pair soon and i could really use a video to help me😅

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

@@ryandavis2928 I'll be filming some good puck-toe and center-seam mocs tutorials in the coming month. Then I will pick one pair and turn them into winter mocs. I am a little backlogged on editing so it will be a while before they make it to KZbin. In the meantime I recommend basing the construction process from: lureofthenorth.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/winter_mocs_booklet1.pdf And the actual stitching and design from this blog series referencing period originals: thebuffalotrace1765.blogspot.com/2021/11/pumps-of-their-own-manufacture-part.html?m=1

[@cowboycody8094]

S I what is Wampum?

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Beads made from shells! Check out the video description for more information. The 'wampum' in this video is colored bone- a more affordable alternative. It may be a little larger than the originals, too.

[@JohnnyRebWasATexan]

Hello, may i inquire as to where you putchased your wampum beads? I really favor the uniform and glossy luster to these wanpum beads. I cannot find all black wanpum beads that are glossy... I have only heen able to find matte.