Pipestone & Pipes
The Prairie here in Pipestone is superb, untouched in it's beauty, quiet and peaceful with insects buzzing, and birds singing happily. The only sounds heard are those of nature, not of man. This is Pipestone, a place of energies that begin at the quarry areas, but permeate the town. These energies are primal, basic, and powerful. It is because of those energies that the Native Americans of yesteryear knew that this place was special. They knew that it had to be cared for because Wakan things happen here.
The stone which is quarried here by Native American's is still used to make the Sacred Pipe. Each Pipe is different as all are made by hand, using tools such as hacksaws, and files. The stone is very soft and easier to fashion than a regular stone. Of course the Ancestors would use a much harder stone to carve the Pipestone, instead of using the tools which are used today. Chuck has actually made a Pipe using three different sizes of flint scrapers, and a stone point attached to a stick to drill the holes. Chuck says, 'If you are going to make it that way, make sure you have lots of time'.
It takes long, hard labor to reach the Pipestone in the quarries, sometimes the quarrier can be in his quarry for a month or more before getting to the soft red layer, which is lying under the second hardest rock in the world, quartzite. He has to reach the Pipestone layer using only hand tools, and his own strength and abilities. Just hitting the quartzite doesn't make a dent all that achieves is a bunch of sparks. It takes knowledge to quarry the stone, and because of that many people leave the quarries empty handed after trying for days to break through the hard rock. Only those with the ancient knowledge actually come away with the soft stone.
Chuck Derby had that knowledge passed to him by his father and grandfather. He works the same quarry that they used. He now stands swinging a sledgehammer, only a few yards from where his father stood years ago doing the same thing, and he too stood not far from the spot where Chuck's grandfather, Moses Crow, allowed his sweat to join with the Earth Mother as he worked in the hot sun to reach the beautiful red stone.
Some people feel that Pipestone articles should not be sold. However the quarriers, Pipe-makers and craftspeople feel that the cost of the items compensates them for their time either quarrying or crafting. They are not selling the stone itself just their time to quarry and make the items. Believe me, none of the Pipestone Dakota Community is making a financial gain at these prices.
The Pipes below, and many others are available in Pipestone, where the stone originates. The Native American People here quarry the stone, and make the Pipes in a very reverent way. They know that one must not say anything negative around the quarry area, one has to always think good thoughts, pray, and leave offerings for the Spirits residing in the area. Many of the Pipe-makers are fourth generation craftspeople, who have learned the right way to make Pipes from their fathers and grandfathers. They know the right way and would do nothing to be sacrilegious towards either the stone, the quarry area, or the Pipes.
Many Traditionals believe that a Pipe stem should not be joined to the bowl, unless you are about to smoke it. The Pipestone craftspeople agree with that, but only after the Pipe has been consecrated by smoking it. Prior to that it is like a child in it's mother's womb, waiting to be born. Each piece of the Pipe is made for the other at the same time. If they are parted before birth it is like a child losing a limb. You, the person who ends up with the Pipe, become the parent. You put the final touch to it, which is your love and respect.
When you smoke a Pipe you should be sending prayers to Wakan Tanka via the smoke. So please, please, please, do not even think of using any substance in it which could cause disrespect to the Creator or yourself. The tobacco used in a Pipe is not halucinary in any way. Drugs are never used by Native Americans in their Pipes.
IMPORTANT
Please take care of your Sacred Pipe, it is the life and soul of many Native American Cultures. Do not leave it on display once you have used it. It is an altar at that point, and each section should be wrapped separately, (preferably in red cloth) and stored away from prying eyes and hands.
Below
you will see a few photos of Pipes, those on the fur were made by
Chuck Derby (Running Elk). The four winds was
made by Ray Redwing. A description of each Pipe
will accompany the photo.
For more details please go HERE
http://www.littlefeathercenter.com/pipes.html (The page looks the same but there are more details on it.)
We can also supply small craft items such as Turtles,
and
Arrowheads,
which are made from the smaller pieces that are left over after a Pipe is carved. None of this precious resource is wasted.
This Pipe is known
as the 'Plains' or 'T' Pipe. This is the traditional style
of the Plains tribes, which was used by the men in Ceremony or when
signing the Treaties. This is the style that is known as the 'Peace Pipe'.
This particular Pipe has a Redwood stem with feathers tied around it. This
can be taken off if a non-decorated stem is needed. The prow is held
during smoking because the bowl tends to get very hot when a lot of people
are smoking it. This style of Pipe comes in various sizes, and can be
smoked either for Ceremony or personal use.
This is an 'Elbow'
style Pipe. Traditionally used by women, it is often called a 'Woman's
Pipe'. Almost always smaller than the Plains Pipe, the prow is not
needed to hold because being smaller less tobacco is used and usually less
people smoke it together. It is most often used as a personal pipe. This
has the traditional 'Pipestone' decoration on the (redwood) stem. This is
not removed as a groove will have been cut into the stem to accommodate
it.
This style of Pipe
is the '4 Winds'. Each ring filed into the bowl represents one of
the 4 directions. Some Pipes have 6 or 7 rings, some have one continuous
line which spirals around the bowl. These are all called 4 winds Pipes.
Some really old Pipes have been found with rings engraved into them, so it
is not a new idea. These come in various sizes too.
Some of this style have lead poured into the engraving, and these are called 'Inlaid'. In the old days old lead bullets were used, but today regular wire is melted into the ring.
This Pipe is a copy
of a really old style, as you can see it has a square shank, as opposed to
the normal round shank. It has a sumac stem, as do most of Chuck's pipes,
rabbit fur instead of hanging leather, and beadwork in the four colors.
The only thing missing from this pipe is horsehair which in the old days
would have been added. This is a 23" Pipe.
This Style would retail for the same as the Plains Pipes.
For more information about the Little Feather Center in Pipestone please go to these pages
Dragonfly_7 Design For your web pages.
Send any questions about the Pipes or Pipestone here
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