Native Americans Keep Pipe-Making Tradition Alive
2023-07-24
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1A tribe of Native Americans in the northern state of Minnesota digs up a special kind of rock and forms it into a device used for smoking, called a pipe.
2The dark red rock is known as pipestone because it has been used for a long time to make the smoking tool.
3The native people consider the rock and pipes sacred.
4But over time, people moved away from the area and others died.
5As a result, not many people are permitted to dig out the rock and not many others know how to make the pipes.
6Only about 12 people remain in the area who know how to carve the pipes.
7Cindy Pederson is one of them. She learned from her grandparents over 50 years ago.
8She said she would be happy to teach the pipe-carving skill to anyone.
9She added, "The Spirit will be with you if you're meant to do that."
10Pederson is one of the Dakota people who want to pass along the skill to future generations.
11She is part of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Nation.
12She holds classes on pipe-carving at a small park near the rock quarries.
13The park in the southwestern part of the state is called Pipestone National Monument.
14Darlene St. Clair is a member of the Dakota tribe.
15She is a professor at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
16She also uses the Dakota name lyekiyapiwin to show she is a member of the tribe.
17St. Clair said the pipestone is important to the spiritual activities of the Native Americans.
18"Praying with pipes, we take very seriously," she said.
19Smoking a pipe made from the deep red rock is thought to connect the smoker with "the Creator."
20The creator is similar to what many religions mean when they discuss God.
21The smoke moves a prayer from the person with the pipe to the creator.
22Gabrielle Drapeau said the pipestone area was always a place for prayer.
23Even enemy tribes would stop fighting when they arrived at the pipestone area.
24Tradition has it that if people fought on the ground of the pipestone, the rock would stop being available.
25Drapeau is a park ranger and cultural resource specialist.
26She started coming to the rock area as a child.
27She is part of the Yankton Sioux tribe of South Dakota.
28When she was young, she heard a story about why the rock turned red.
29Many people died in a great flood, and their blood changed the color of the rock.
30The creator then came to the area and said if people smoked from a pipe, they could reach him with a message.
31Drapeau said those who smoke the pipes also feel connected to all the people who came before.
32"It's not just a willy-nilly stone," she said. Willy-nilly is a combination of words meant to show that something is unimportant.
33Because of that, the rock is protected.
34If you want to cut the rock from the ground, you need to have permission.
35Only those who are members of Native American tribes can come to remove the rock.
36While some, like Pederson, want to teach pipe-making to others, there is disagreement about whether non-Native Americans should be permitted to learn.
37Some think the pipe-making knowledge should only be shared with other Native Americans.
38In addition, many Native Americans think only Indigenous people should be permitted to use the pipes.
39Travis Erickson is one of those people permitted to take the rock from the ground.
40He started doing that at the age of 10.
41The diggers must work only with hand tools to protect the pipestone area.
42Erickson started making the pipes with his family in the 1960s.
43He learned with other family members and went on to teach his own children how to do the work.
44But 60 years later, not many people want to do the difficult job of cutting out the pipestone and making the pipes.
45He wants to teach the skills to as many young Native Americans as possible.
46Many of the young people only learn about the pipestone and the pipes when they come for visits.
47Cindy Pederson's brother, Mark, also teaches at the visitor's center.
48He recently taught a number of young people how to swing heavy hammers.
49Many wanted to return and learn more about cutting out the pipestone.
50They also tell the young people the history of the area and its important place in the spiritual life of Native Americans.
51Drapeau said she tells them they are permitted to come to pipestone for prayer.
52In the past, many native people were restricted from coming to pipestone for prayer events.
53The Pipestone National Monument is run by the National Park Service, a U.S. government agency.
54About 75,000 people visit each year.
55The government and the native people decided that pipes would no longer be sold in the visitor center.
56But non-Indigenous people can still buy the pipes just a short distance away at stores in the town of Pipestone.
57The native people say they want to protect their traditions.
58Greg Gagnon studies Native Americans and wrote a book about Dakota culture.
59He said many native people are worried that their traditions will be watered down if they permit everyone to use the pipes.
60But Pederson said she is not worried.
61She said "the spirit" works to help people who create the pipes and receive them.
62"Grandma and Grandpa always said the stone takes care of itself, knows what's in a person's heart," she said.
63I'm Dan Friedell. And I'm Faith Pirlo
1A tribe of Native Americans in the northern state of Minnesota digs up a special kind of rock and forms it into a device used for smoking, called a pipe. 2The dark red rock is known as pipestone because it has been used for a long time to make the smoking tool. 3History of pipestone 4The native people consider the rock and pipes sacred. But over time, people moved away from the area and others died. As a result, not many people are permitted to dig out the rock and not many others know how to make the pipes. 5Only about 12 people remain in the area who know how to carve the pipes. Cindy Pederson is one of them. She learned from her grandparents over 50 years ago. She said she would be happy to teach the pipe-carving skill to anyone. She added, "The Spirit will be with you if you're meant to do that." 6Pederson is one of the Dakota people who want to pass along the skill to future generations. 7She is part of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Nation. She holds classes on pipe-carving at a small park near the rock quarries. The park in the southwestern part of the state is called Pipestone National Monument. 8Darlene St. Clair is a member of the Dakota tribe. She is a professor at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. She also uses the Dakota name lyekiyapiwin to show she is a member of the tribe. 9St. Clair said the pipestone is important to the spiritual activities of the Native Americans. "Praying with pipes, we take very seriously," she said. 10Smoking a pipe made from the deep red rock is thought to connect the smoker with "the Creator." The creator is similar to what many religions mean when they discuss God. 11The smoke moves a prayer from the person with the pipe to the creator. 12Gabrielle Drapeau said the pipestone area was always a place for prayer. Even enemy tribes would stop fighting when they arrived at the pipestone area. Tradition has it that if people fought on the ground of the pipestone, the rock would stop being available. 13Drapeau is a park ranger and cultural resource specialist. She started coming to the rock area as a child. She is part of the Yankton Sioux tribe of South Dakota. When she was young, she heard a story about why the rock turned red. Many people died in a great flood, and their blood changed the color of the rock. The creator then came to the area and said if people smoked from a pipe, they could reach him with a message. 14Drapeau said those who smoke the pipes also feel connected to all the people who came before. 15Not just any stone 16"It's not just a willy-nilly stone," she said. Willy-nilly is a combination of words meant to show that something is unimportant. 17Because of that, the rock is protected. If you want to cut the rock from the ground, you need to have permission. Only those who are members of Native American tribes can come to remove the rock. 18While some, like Pederson, want to teach pipe-making to others, there is disagreement about whether non-Native Americans should be permitted to learn. 19Keeping the knowledge safe 20Some think the pipe-making knowledge should only be shared with other Native Americans. In addition, many Native Americans think only Indigenous people should be permitted to use the pipes. 21Travis Erickson is one of those people permitted to take the rock from the ground. He started doing that at the age of 10. The diggers must work only with hand tools to protect the pipestone area. 22Erickson started making the pipes with his family in the 1960s. He learned with other family members and went on to teach his own children how to do the work. But 60 years later, not many people want to do the difficult job of cutting out the pipestone and making the pipes. 23He wants to teach the skills to as many young Native Americans as possible. Many of the young people only learn about the pipestone and the pipes when they come for visits. 24Cindy Pederson's brother, Mark, also teaches at the visitor's center. He recently taught a number of young people how to swing heavy hammers. Many wanted to return and learn more about cutting out the pipestone. 25They also tell the young people the history of the area and its important place in the spiritual life of Native Americans. 26Drapeau said she tells them they are permitted to come to pipestone for prayer. In the past, many native people were restricted from coming to pipestone for prayer events. 27The Pipestone National Monument is run by the National Park Service, a U.S. government agency. About 75,000 people visit each year. 28The government and the native people decided that pipes would no longer be sold in the visitor center. But non-Indigenous people can still buy the pipes just a short distance away at stores in the town of Pipestone. 29The native people say they want to protect their traditions. Greg Gagnon studies Native Americans and wrote a book about Dakota culture. He said many native people are worried that their traditions will be watered down if they permit everyone to use the pipes. 30But Pederson said she is not worried. She said "the spirit" works to help people who create the pipes and receive them. 31"Grandma and Grandpa always said the stone takes care of itself, knows what's in a person's heart," she said. 32I'm Dan Friedell. And I'm Faith Pirlo 33Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. 34____________________________________________________ 35Words in This Story 36sacred -adj. holy; deserving of religious feelings 37park -n. a piece of land that is protected from development for its natural or historic importance 38quarry -n. a place where stone is cut from the ground for use in industry 39ranger -n. a person who helps oversee public forests and lands 40hammer -n. a tool used for driving nails or breaking up rock 41We want to hear from you. Do you think the carving skill will live on? 42Here is how our comment system works: 43Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.