How to Make Iroquois Peace Pipes
Tobacco smoking pipes were used by several Native American tribes long before European colonialism. All smoking pipes are made of three parts: the bowl, which holds the tobacco; the stem, which carries the smoke to the smoker; and the shank, which connects the stem and the bowl. Iroquois smokers usually had a simple personal pipe for everyday smoking, while the tribe owned a more ornate "peace pipe" for ceremonial events. The everyday pipes were usually made out of clay, antler or bone, while the ceremonial pipes were usually carved out of a soft stone called pipestone, a very soft form of catlinite, and sometimes decorated in ceremonial feathers and dyes and fastened with a long, hollow reed stem.
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Things You'll Need
- Pencil and paper
- Carving knife
- Soapstone block
- Reed or bamboo stem
- Drill with 1/16-inch bit or smaller
- Polishing cloth
- Ceremonial feathers (optional)
- Ceremonial beads (optional)
Instructions
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Design the pipe. Choose the materials for its construction. Soapstone, a soft, easily carved stone, is similar to the traditional pipestone and can be used for the bowl of the pipe. Soapstone is readily available in many hobby stores as a carving material and can be shaped with any metal carving tools. Also decide on the length and width of the pipe's stem (the mouthpiece) and how the bowl will connect to the stem. Ceremonial peace pipes generally have long stems, usually over eight inches long. Traditionally, stems would be made out of any locally growing long hollow reed, but bamboo can also be used and can be found in many interior design stores. The bowl can be between 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches wide and from 1 to 3 inches deep, depending on the size of the stone. Figures, such as animal faces, can be carved into the front and sides of the bowl. Traditional animals include bear and hawk.
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Carve the design into the pipe. Lighter colors of soapstone can be marked with pencil to create carving guides on the stone. Carve the bowl into the top of the stone to ensure it's centered on the stone. Cut the reed stem between 8 and 20 inches, and measure the opening at the end before carving the shank area. The stem and bowl stay attached at the shank through friction. The shank area of the bowl should be tightly wedged into the end of the stem. The shank should fit snugly to minimize the loss of smoke through the seam as smoke is inhaled.
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Clamp the bowl onto a work bench and drill a small hole through the shank into the bottom of the bowl using the 1/16-inch drill bit. This hole lets the smoke travel from the bowl through the stem to the smoker. Lightly polish the bowl. Soapstone, being soft, can be quickly worn down with vigorous polishing. Attach the stem to the bowl and attach any ceremonial feathers or beads to the pipe as desired.
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Tips & Warnings
Smoking causes cancer.
References
- Photo Credit David Becker/Getty Images News/Getty Images
