peace pipe

A peace pipe is a ceremonial smoking pipe used by Native American tribes to seal treaties, agreements, and peaceful resolutions. The ‘pipe of peace’ symbolizes harmony and the binding nature of the agreement because smoking together created a shared ritual and witness to the commitment. The term comes from colonial misunderstandings of indigenous traditions—the pipe was used for many ceremonies beyond peace-making, including spiritual rituals and important councils. European traders and settlers fixated on peace-making and popularized the ‘peace pipe’ label. Different tribes had distinct pipe traditions with specific meanings and protocols governing their use.