NAVIGATION

Known as ‘peace pipes’ by Europeans calumets were in fact used in a variety of ways. Pipes were smoked as sacred ‘signatures’ to important events such as peace or alliance making, commerce and trade, or the undertaking of war, or success in the hunt. By passing through the calumet the smoke is ritually sanctified and once rendered sacred in this way it becomes the medium by which prayers, wishes or the promises of the smoking parties are transported to the creator spirits. Calumets and the events solemnised by their use were held in the highest regard. Travelling down the Mississippi River in 1673 Father Jacques Marquette remarked on the universal respect that the ceremonial ‘peace pipe’ was shown among all the native peoples he encountered even those at war with each other. He stated that upon the presentation of a pipe during fierce battle, all fighting would halt.

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