Calumet

the pipe of peace used by the Indians of North America. The bowl was made of some sort of soapstone, or of red pipestone. A long reed served for a stem. On all ceremonial occasions the calumet was passed from hand to hand. When met to make a treaty, the warriors sat in a circle. The pipe was passed around gravely; each warrior took a few whiffs as a sign of friendship. When the terms of the treaty had been arranged the pipe went around from hand to hand again. Each warrior or chieftain took a whiff or two to indicate his agreement to the terms. If he passed the pipe without smoking he declared his dissent. In this way a vote was taken. The calumet was also passed around the circle as a token that warriors going out to battle would stand or fall together. See Pipestone