Native American pipes are often called "peace pipes." Although native people did sometimes
smoke when making treaty settlements, pipes were used for many purposes. Because the
Plains people
believed that smoke carried their words to the Great Spirit, smoking was like saying
a prayer. Implements associated with the use of tobacco, including pipes, are considered
sacred.
Before talking of holy things, we prepare ourselves by offerings... one will
fill his pipe and hand it to the other who will light it and offer it to the sky and the
earth... they will smoke together... then will they be ready to talk.
- Chased-By-Bears, Santee Sioux
|