The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-07
FOCH SMOKES
PIPE OF PEACE
WITH INDIANS
Meaning of Ceremony Explained by
Sioux Chieftain-Marshal Given
Name Of Wakinyan Watakpe.

bismarck, y. D., jan All the
mystery of the Indian understand
ing of life, earth, water and sky
entered into 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 X. Gilmore,
curator OF the North Dakota His
torical society. In the rush of COM
Melting the ceremony within the
allotted few minutes, wrong in
terpretation was placed upon the
name bestowed by Red Tomahawk.
according TO Mr.. Gilmore, who had
the Indian chief repeat the name
after the ceremony. that he might
he certain of having 1t correctly
placed in his historical records.
Marshal E'och is placed in the myth
ology of the Tetons as Charging
lightning, the words for thunder
and lightning being almost the
same.
DIR. Gilmore's historical statement
of the event says in part:
Then he held up the pipe and
said: Among my people the Da-
pipe and smoke together; so in like
manner | wish to smoke with the
marshal and to give him this pipe
as a token of friendship. Now tAe
meaning of the p.pe-and its parts
are these, the pipe-bowl is made
from catlinite, red stone which is
found only in southwestern Mime
sofa. The stone in this use signi-
fes firm and lasting friendship.
The pipe-stem is of ashwood, ana
signifies that our friendship shall
he durable and unbrOken. The hol-
low of the pipestem through which
we draw the smoke is straight, sig
nifying that the words proceeding
from our lips shall be just and
true. and that our paths shall be
straight The colors of these RIB
bons upon the pipestem also have
their meaning. The white signifies
that all former differences are
cleared away, and we shall be call
did friends. The red ribbon is the
colcr Of blood and signifies that We
are all of one blood.
Then Red Tomahawk held the
pipe first to the north, then east,
aloft to the sky, then downwards
to mother earth. This was form
of invocation to the Divine powers.
He then lighted the pipe and
drew upon it, and then offered the
mouthpiece to the marshal, who
also drew upon it, and then to
Major Welch.
Red Tomahawk was obliged to
abbreviate the ceremony because CT
the lack of time. He also abbre-
waited the explanations CT the SYM
bolism for the same reason. If
time had permitted all should have
been seated upon the ground.
The material for smoking. with
which the pipe was filled, was a
mixture of tobacco and the inner
bark of a native shrub, a species
of dogwood, Cornus stolonifera.
Tobacco is invested with sCme-
thing of mystery and sacredness in
the Indian thought, and was used
economically in the manner of in
tense.
After delivering the pipe to
Marshal Foch Red Tomahawk de-
clared his desire and purpose to
CculeI upbA IIlG La SAldi INT AOAOi
OF a name in the Dakota nation,
Wakinyan Watakpe. This name
with which Red Tomahawk invest
ed the marshal has significance i'll
connection with the historic mes
sage sent by the marshal at the
first battle of the Marine: The sit
uation is excellent, l am attack
ing!' The meaning of the Dakota
word watekDe is Ito make an at
tack. ito charge. The meaning
Of the Dakota word Wakinyan, IS
lightning Therefore the meaning
of the name is 'ightning-in-at-
tack" OF lightning which at
tacks"