Group displays Native American History

IRVING, N.Y. (WIVB) - Historical pieces of Native American culture are on display around Western New York this weekend.

Native Americans Community Services are hosting the preservation of a 400-year-old Wampum belt and others on Sunday at the Cattaraugus Community Center in Irving from 1- 3 p.m.

Presentations by guest speakers will be followed up with question-and-answer sessions. They will also show and talk about the three original Wampum Belts- Two Row, Hiawatha, and the Covenant Chain.

The 400-year-old belt is considered a model of friendship and respect of sovereignty among nations. Joyce Jamieson, a Seneca Nation Tribal advocate said, "We've invited Chief Edwards from the Onondaga Nation to come and give a presentation of the Hiawatha, the 2-row and the covenant chains. Those are the belts that were the first treaties with the Europeans that came to our land."

Replicas of 65 other historical belts will be showcased as well.