Peace Pipes

Native American Indian Ceremonial Peace Pipes 

A Native American peace pipe is often used in a spiritual ceremony.  During the ceremony, Native Americans will smoke from the peace pipe and say a prayer to the four directions.   The peace pipe is not restricted to being used only by Native Americans, but what it symbolizes must be respected by everyone attending the ceremony.  

What a Native American peace pipe is made of may vary from tribe to tribe.  The Cherokee and Chickasaw tribes often used river clay that was formed into a bowl shape then “cooked” by putting it over a hot fire for the bowl of a peace pipe.  Bluestone is hard quartzite that is greenish blue.  Found in the Appalachian Mountains, it was used for the bowl of a pipe by the Cherokee, Creek, and Chickasaw as well.  The Eastern, Western, Great Basin and Plains Tribes often used red pipestone (also known as catlinite) . 

The Native Americans considered tobacco to be a sacred and powerful plant.  If help was needed from the spirit world, sometimes tobacco would be offered in return for help.  It was believed that the smoke from the Native American peace pipe carried prayers up to the heavens.