Wampum between our nations: Haudenosaunee history and inter societal law
The Faculty of Law has the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Darren Bonaparte, a Mohawk storyteller, writer, and artist from Akwesasne for a presentation on the meaning and significance of wampum belts in Haudenosaunee history, traditions and laws, and how they are implicated in the history of relations between our nations.
About the speaker
Darren Bonaparte is the creator of , a website dedicated to Rotinonhsi贸n:ni (People of the Longhouse) history. He gives presentations on the ceremonial and diplomatic use of wampum belts and strings at educational and cultural institutions, and festivals in the US and Canada.
Darren started out in radio and has worked in Akwesasne media, government, and cultural centers for over 32 years. He was elected chief of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in 1999. He has written several books, including Creation & Confederation: The Living History of the Iroquois, an exploration of the written versions of traditional 鈥渆pics鈥 of Rotinonhsi贸n:ni culture, and A Lily Among Thorns: The Mohawk Repatriation of K谩teri Tekahkw铆:tha, a study of the life of K谩teri Tekahkw铆:tha, canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. Darren continues to write for Indian Country Today, Kahnaw脿:ke鈥檚 The Eastern Door, and Akwesasne鈥檚 Indian Time.