May 26, 2012

Narragansett Craftsmen Carry on Sacred Tradition at Purple ShellBy Cassidy SwansonTheWesterlySun.com

Charlestown, RI – Contrary to popular belief, wampum — the beads made from shells by Native American tribes — was not used as a form of currency by the Eastern Woodland tribes, including the Narragansett. Rather, these shells were considered sacred, used in jewelry and traditional garb.

For the Narragansett tribe, wampum means quahog shells, characterized by the deep purple color inside the shell. At The Purple Shell, an aptly named native jewelry and gift store located at 5129 Post Road, Narragansett artisans Allen Hazard and Craig Spears keep the tradition of their people alive, carving elaborate shapes and beads from the violet-hued shells.

Hazard and Spears opened the shop, located in a small white cottage, in December 2011. The building was in disrepair and needed a lot of work, but now houses a wide selection of wampum pieces and other native-themed merchandise. Their wives, Patricia Hazard and Avis Hazard-Spears (Hazard’s sister), make jewelry and work at the shop, as do Hazard’s nieces.

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