Dave Fadden standing between two of his paintings on display, to the right is his most recent painting.

Wampum Visions, an exhibit currently on display at The Native North American Traveling College held its opening night on April 29, 2015. The Wampum Visions exhibit demonstrates the importance of wampum to the Haudenosaunee.

In its simplest form, wampum are beads made from various purple and white mollusk shells, usually referred to as the quahog shell that is found on the coastal waters of northeastern Untied States. All belts in the exhibit are replicas, except two belts made of real quahog shells – wampum. Making wampum from real quahog shells is a time consuming and intensive process and in as much, it presents the true meaning and importance of each belt in our culture, in our history and in even now our contemporary times.

Darren Bonaparte, local historical journalist gave a presentation on wampum during the opening. The presentation gave breath and meaning to the exhibit, making the belts, the painting, the intent of the exhibit closer to heart and mind.

Several artists using various media and a wide range of styles to express themselves artistically have their works on display. Ryan Hill, Dave Fadden, Don Fadden Phillip White Cree, John Thomas, Dan White, Kit Thomas, Jade Thompson, Bruce Boots, Charlotte King, Niio Perkins, and Victoria Ransom have artwork on display until the end of July.

The most prominent artist with work on display is Dave Fadden with several paintings depicting Mohawk men, women and children in both contemporary and historical times. Fadden's paintings reflect a side often not portrayed in our people – contentment and happiness. Charlotte King and John Thomas, both established and well known artist have their painting in this collection adding Kit Thomas's vibrant and eclectic painting is worth crossing the bridge for and the intensity of Bruce Boots' painting is not lost on anyone. The exquisite beadwork by Niio Perkins and Dan White are well, quite exquisite.

The most striking is the visual display of the wampum belts itself. By the creativity of Victoria Ransom and Amanda Tarbell the visual impact of the hanging wampum belts in the center of the room not only generates the meaning of every piece of artwork on display it gives each piece of artwork its meaning and depths.

Inside the NNATC gallery, the Wampum Visions Exhibit.

"I wanted to amalgamate culture and art together. I wanted to utilize this museum space and combine that. So I thought that would be a good idea was to have a wampum themed art show, which will incorporate a lot of the artist talent, we have here in Akwesasne. Displays at lot of the talent we have here in Akwesasne and at the same time use this as an educational tour. When we are brainstorming, we wanted to display them in a way that the wampum would actually be used. We have some from Phillip White, the NNATC and many of these are Darren Bonaparte replicas. Ryan Hill and Darren Bonaparte helped with the display of wampum belts. There are so many wampum belts out there. This is only a fraction of the number of wampum belts. Most of the old belts are lost; however, some have found their way into museums, and as the story goes, some are still hidden away, stated Victoria Ransom, curator of the Wampum Visions Exhibit.

The Wampum Visions exhibit will run until June 2015. The North Native American Traveling College is located at 1 Ronathahon:ni Lane, ON K6H 5R7.

Using a variety jeweler's mediums to make earrings, choker and rings by Dan White. In the upper left hand corner you can see pieces of the quahog shell and its distinctive purple and white color. Each piece and color of wampum had meaning – or significance in where it was placed on the belt or string of wampum.

A necklace incorporating wampum and beads into an elaborate beadwork design by Niio Perkins.e 2015. The North Native American Traveling College is located at 1 Ronathahon:ni Lane, ON K6H 5R7.		Kit Thomas with her painting, unfortunately, this photo does not translate the vibrancy of life of this painting. Seeing her and other paintings in real time is worth the visit.

Each painting has a meaning or message and Bruce Boots' paintings have many.