Like the Hiawatha Belt, the Dust Fan Belt is extremely old. This belt was created at the beginning of our confederacy of peace. We do not know when this belt created, but we know we have had this belt long before the French, Dutch and English explorers made their way to our lands.
The Dust Fan Belt is a belt that has two general meanings. Firstly, when you look at the design of the belt, you can see the tree symbolism. This is a reference to the Tree of Peace. Once the union of the 5 nations was successful, the Peacemaker uprooted the tallest white pine tree. He then instructed the fifty leaders to through into the cavity their weapons of anger, jealousy, hatred, and war against one another – they buried the hatchet.
The Peacemaker then replanted the tree. On top of the Tree of Peace he placed an eagle. The eagle with its keen eyesight will look out for any danger to the confederacy. To the roots of the tree, he sent to the four directions. He foretold that if any nation seeks peace, they will find these roots and follow them to the source, the Haudenosaunee. Finally, the white pine tree itself will remind the people of this union as the needles on the tree are bundled together by 5 needles.
The second meaning of the Dust Fan Belt is one of clarity. The chiefs are selected to sit and deliberate to make peaceful decisions for the betterment of the people and the unborn faces of the nation too. At times this may be difficult to see the best path forward. This belt is used to sweep away the dust to the council can see the best way forward. In this manner the Great Peace and the Great Tree of Peace is everlasting. That is also why, the symbolism of the tree carries past the edge to the belt foretelling the strength and longevity of the union.