Ratinenhayénthos created a design for a wampum belt to record this agreement between the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, Kingston Area Seed Initiative, and the members of Ratinenhayénthos and other interested community members.  Historically wampum belts were used as a method of recording significant events and nation to nation agreements.  We felt that it was fitting for such a historic event as this. 

The belt represents the passing of the  seeds from one group of people to another, as well as the commitment to continue to grow the seeds, not just collect them.  This design can be interpreted in several ways: 

• the passing forward of the seeds from the original growers of the collection 

• the Rematriation of the seeds from the Sisters of Providence to Ratinenhayén:thos

• the passing of the seeds and knowledge to future generations 

Together, Members of Ratinenhayénthos and the two other organizations learned teachings and understanding of wampum and worked on beading the belt.  We made a belt from quahog shell beads and 3 other replicas for each organization.