The Hope pioneer., 1922-03-23
FOCH IS GIVEN
indian name
Called "Charging Lightning" by
Teton-Dakotas.
EXPLAINED BY HISTORIAN

Significance Of Ceremony and Smoking
Of the Pipe Set Forth by Curator Of
North Dakota Historical Society,"
Observation-Disclosures Are Words in
Language Of Dakota Nation for
Name Given Marshal-chief DeIiv.
ers Eloquent Speech.
All the mystery of the Indian UNDER
standing of life, earth, water and sky
entered into the ceremony in which the
members of the Teton tribe Of the
Sioux named Marshal Foch and
smoked with him the pipe of peace.
according to Melvin r. Gilmore. cura-
tor of the North Dakota Historical So
ciety.
In the rush of completing the cere-
mony within the allotted few minutes
wrong Interpretation was placed up.
on the name bestowed by Red Toma-
hawk, according to Mr.. Gilmore, who
had the Indian chief repeat the name
after the ceremony, that he might be
certain Of having it correctly placed
in his historical records.
Marshal Foch is placed in the myth
ology of the Tetons as Charging Light.
ming, the words for thunder and light
ming being almost the same.
Speech Of Indian Chief.
Doctor Gilmore's historical state
ment of the event says in part:
Marshal Foch was met by delega-
tion of Teton-Dakotas from the Stand
ing Rock reservation of the Dakota
nation. The leader of this delegation
was Red Tomahawk, who ceremonially
presented pipe to Marshal Foch and
also conferred upon him name in the
Dakota nation. In his speech to the
marshal he said: My friend, the first
time ever heard of the great general,
Marshal Foch, was at the time when
we sent our young men to France. At
that time I never thought that
should ever see the great general; but
today I have the honor and the pleas
ure to see him, and I am glad. The
young men of the French nation and
young men of the Dakota nation
fought together in the same cause
against our common enemy, and some
Of both nations died together In that
struggle and were buried in the same
ground
"Then he held up the pipe and said: {:
Among my people, the Dakotas, it 10
our custom to offer the pipe and smoke
together; so in like manner I wish to
smoke with the marshal and to give
him this pipe as token Of friendship.
Now the meaning of the pipe and its
parts are these: The pipe bowl is made
from catlinite, red stone which is
found only in southwestern Minnesota.
The stone in this use signifies firm and
lasting friendship. The pipe stem is Of
ashwood, and signifies that our
friendship shall be durable and Mn-
broken.
Meaning Of colors.
""The hollow of the pipe stem through
which we draw the smoke is straight,
signifying that the words proceeding
from our lips shall be just and true
and that our paths shall be straight.
The colors of these ribbons upon the
pipe stem also have their meaning.
The white signifies that all former diff
ferences are cleared away, and we
shall be candid friends. The red rib.
bon is the color of blood and signifies
that we are all of one Blood
"Then Red Tomahawk held the pipe
first to the north, then east, to south
and to the west; then aloft to the
sky, then downward to Mother Earth.
This was form Of invocation to all
the Divine powers.
HE then lighted his pipe and drew
upon 1t, and then offered the mouth
piece to the marshal, who also drew
! upon it, and then to Major Welch.
Red Tomahawk was obliged to abbre-
viate the ceremony because of lack of
time. He also abbreviated the expla.
nations Of the symbolism for the same
reason. If time had permitted all
should have been seated upon the
ground.
4 "The material for smoking with
which the pipe was filled was a mix
ture Of tobacco and the inner bark o.
a native shrub, species Of dogwood,
Cornus stolonifera.
Tobacco is invested with some
thing of mystery and sacredness in the
! Indian thought, and was used cere-
monially in the manner Of incense.
! after delivering the pipe to Mar
Shal FOch Red TOmabawk declared
his desire and purpose to confer upon