All about the world's first LEGO wampum belt

NORTH BAY - Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer and Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee explained the treaty relationship between First Nation Peoples and Ontario while launching a special educational tool at the Union of Ontario Indians head office on Migizii Miikun Road, Hwy 17 west.  

Nine year old Alexander Hebert was also on hand for the release of the We Are All Treaty People Teachers Kit.

He is the designer of the world’s first LEGO wampum belt.

Hebert is from Dokis First Nation. His design depicts the Treaty of Niagara Wampum Belt.

Enough LEGO’s to make the belt are included in the kit, as well as a teacher’s guide.

Learning units are suitable to teach children as early as grade one.  

Historically wampum was carved from shells for use in the indigenous financial system.

Wampum belts were later used in treaties to close legally binding agreements.

Nipissing First Nation Chief Marianna Couchie, whose background includes education, says providing the We Are All Treaty People kit is an important step.

“This kit about treaties is fundamental for our understanding about how we relate to each other. Treaties are not out of date. That was a solemn promise between our nation and the newcomers.”

Chief Couchie has always remembered the dehumanizing portrayal of Aboriginal Peoples in a grade three elementary reader.

“To say that students come out of the school system without the knowledge of First Nations Peoples experiences and contributions to the economy, arts and culture is a sad statement.”

“That has been a problem in the education system. We are all colonized. They say they found us and claimed our land. Now, we are trying to decolonize.”

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee says, “Because it is not taught in the education system, people do not understand that Treaties are living documents. There were commitments made on both sides. We were to share the resources of the land and to be allies in war. We have honoured that commitment. Our ancestors wanted to protect our ways of life in hunting, fishing and gathering. Some treaties specify land use should be only the depth of a plow. They have gone much deeper than that in the mining sector.”

Speaking to the crowd, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs David Zimmer had praise for all who worked on the We Are All Treaty People Teacher Kit.

“We are at a tipping point in our treaty relationship. There is interest in the non-aboriginal community to understand treaties.”

He will be presenting the Teacher Guide to Premier Wynne.

- KA Smith for Village Media

(PHOTO: Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee shakes hands with Ontario's Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer after building the LEGO Treaty of Niagara wampum belt together with designer Alex Hebert)