First I'm the volunteer President of the board of directors of a community health centre in Toronto Canada for Aboriginal people
Home (yes I have a day job - I'm a project and infrastructure specialist). The most popular misconception about our pipes is that they are for making peace. In fact our pipes are for prayer. Creator gave us 4 sacred medicines: sage, sweetgrass, cedar and tobacco. The smoking of tobacco is for prayer. When we smoke our prayers are carried to Creator in the smoke of the tobacco. Pipes are given (at least mine was) as result of prayer and guidance from a traditional person / medicine person. Being a Pipe Carrier brings the responsibility of being available to other Aboriginal people who seek help or guidance on any range of issues. Most pipes are made from the stone taken from a quarry in, yes, Pipestone Minnesota, some can be very ornate and beautifully crafted or very plain and simple as is mine. Some are very old and have been passed down and are very important to our people and are very powerful. Pipes that are used in a spiritual fashion (I've seen pipes for sale on the net) are "activated" in ceremony. I hope that I've been able to properly respond to your question. Anything else please feel free to ask and will respond if I have the knowledge, if I don't I'll ask others.
I am Mêskwananihsi it is my spirit name it means Red Tail Hawk.