Opening Ceremony
Respecting local ceremonies and traditional activities on the land is paramount to building safe and healthy relationships throughout the Project. On August 6th, 2021, the Project had an Opening Ceremony with a Water Ceremony and the Wampum Belt Ceremony led by Elder Sharp Doppler and Elder Mike Standup.

The wampum belt, crafted with vibrant purple and contrasting white, convey messages of peace, unity, and respect. These colors, the natural hues of the whelk and quahog clam shells used to make wampum beads, hold deep cultural symbolism, representing the harmony and balance that our culture values.
The Wampum Belt, a creation of cultural significance, was crafted with authentic wampum beads from the Quahog shell. The artist behind this masterpiece is Sgeno, also known as Haohyoh (Ken Maracle), a respected faith keeper of the Lower Cayuga Longhouse and a member of the Cayuga Nation, Iroquois Confederacy, Deer Clan.

The meaning of the symbols in the belt is:

• At each end are four purple rows representing the four directions.
• Each of those rows is seven beads long, representing the seventh generation.
• All decisions are based on how that decision will affect the next seven generations.
• Also, 7×4 is 28, which represents the woman’s moon cycle.
• The seven figures represent the seven nations (countries) for which this belt is made.
• The figures are male, female, male, female, male, female, male.
• The men are at the end because they are the protectors and the providers for the women.