Calumet
Calumet, the ceremonial “peace pipe” used by North American Indians. The bowl was made of soapstone or red pipestone. The long, ornamental stem was made from a reed. On ceremonial occasions, the lighted calumet was passed from hand to hand. The Indians, sitting in a circle, each took a puff as a sign of friendship. The pipe was also used in voting on a question before a council. Each member who agreed with a proposed course of action took a puff. Those who disagreed would pass the pipe without smoking. As the proposal might be for war as well as for peace, the popular idea of “peace pipe” is not entirely accurate.