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Cultural Context

trade; personal decoration; status

History Of Use

Silver First Nations peace medals first produced by British, Spanish, French. Earliest American peace medals produced in 1789. Medals presented to important First Nations people on occasions such as treaty signing, also given to First Nations representatives visiting national capital or given away by Indian Agents on the frontiers. Medals over time became a requisite part of dealings with First Nations and Government officials. Possession of a medal indicated rank and distinction.

Description

Necklace of beads, eight beavers and a George Washington Peace Medal. Necklace strung on string. The pattern starting from the centre back to the medal at bottom centre is one clear bead, one red, one clear, 26 mottled red, a beaver, one blue, three red repeated three times, followed by one blue bead and four red. The medal is oval. Engraved on it is a tree with a First Nations man with pipe and a man of European descent. Engraved below is “George Washington, President 1793”. On the back of the medal is coat-of-arms of the United States, together with engraved motto “e pluribus unum”. Maker’s mark stamped at bottom of medal. Maker’s mark also stamped on each beaver.