Two Row Wampum: Sovereign Connection with First Nations

Two Row Wampum will often find itself within a history class as an initial treaty between First Nations and Settlers. However, it should not be left in history. There is a place for it within a civics class as we teach about the rights of nations. It may be an old treaty, but the effects and implications of its breaking should be addressed today.

Within my professional practice, the teaching of the Two Row Wampum could be used as a framework to create an inclusive classroom environment. As mentioned in the article, the Two Row Wampum represented a relationship based on peace, friendship, and mutual respect. Those three ideals are important to have within a classroom. As mutual respect is key in collaboration, and peace and friendship are vital for a positive classroom environment (when mixing in mutual respect), it would be good to integrate the Two Row Wampum at the start of the semester when co-creating classroom expectations.

Additionally, the Two Row Wampum’s meaning can be used when hearing and learning about different perspectives. Showing respect, peace, and friendship are important when we learn about different perspectives - something that is part of the FSL curriculum. It stated in the article, that the two lines represent that “neither interfering with each other’s voyage or trying to steer the other’s vessel.” This can also lead to discussions of self-determination, colonisation and its impact, as well as everyone being on their own learning journey.

The part that took me the longest to wrap my head around was the two nations idea. Decolonizing the point of view and shifting my framework to include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis as nations helped me understand this concept better. Once this shift happened, it made immediate sense that both nations should exist peacefully without disturbing the sovereignty of the other nation. Canada has gone to war to fight against this, but the continued breaking of this treaty normalised Canada’s removal of the sovereignty of other nations on this land. Shifting the viewpoint from Indigenous people of Canada to Indigenous Nations on the land called Canada helps create an inclusionary curriculum that respects the rights of different nations.