148 The Book of Woodcraft 



THE PEACE PIPE CEREMONY 



The Medicine Man, standing in front of the ready- 

 laid fire, opens Council thus: '^Neetah Kola nayhoon-po 

 omnicheeyay nee-chopi — Hear me, my friends, we are about 

 to hold a council. 



*'Now light we the Council Fire after the manner of the 

 Forest children, not in the way of the white man, but — 

 even as Wakonda himself doth Ught his fire — by the rub- 

 bing together of two trees in the storm-wind, so cometh 

 forth the sacred fire from the wood of the forest." 



(He uses the drill; the smoke comes, the flame bursts 

 forth.) *'Now know we that Wakonda, whose dwelling is 

 above the Thunder-bird, whose messenger is the Thunder- 

 bird, hath been pleased to smile on his children, hath sent 

 down the sacred fire. By this we know he will be present 

 at our Council, that his wisdom will be with us. 



"This is a Council of Peace, so Hght we first the Pipe of 

 Peace." 



(Kneeling at the fire he lights the pipe. As soon as it is 

 going, he lifts the pipe grasped in both hands, with the stem 

 toward the sky, saying) : 



To Wakonda; that his wisdom be with us. Hay-oon- 

 kee-ya. Noon-way. 



(All answer): Noon-way. (Amen, or this is our 

 prayer.) 



To Maka Ina, Mother Earth, that she send us food, Hay- 

 oon-kee-ya. Noon-way. 



(All answer) : Noon-way. 



To Weeyo-peata, the Sunset Wind, that he come not 

 in his strength upon us. Hay-oon-kee-oon-ee-ya-snee. Noon- 

 way. (Then blows smoke and holds the stem to the 

 west.) 



(All answer) : Noon-way. 



