pipe

pipe

pipe

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Introduction

Pipe, sleatite and lead, Mistissini- Cree, pre-1910. Collected by Frank Speck.

Nation of Maker: Cree Eeyou (Eastern James Bay Quebec Cree)
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

NMAI catalog card.

Date Made or Date Range: 1850s to 1910
Materials

Made of sleatite, lead, wood, beads.

Techniques or Format

Stone pipe made of sleatite and lead. Wooden stem is wrapped with beads. The end of the stem has several strands of beads attached.

Other Notes

Cath Oberholtzer notes in her article Pipe Dreams, "we learn that when a pipe is first made it is considered dead until the owner has a vision about it. An appropriate vision reveals how the owner is to decorate the pipe, and once decorated the pipe becomes powerful... The whole then becomes a graphic mnemonic device to propitiate one's guardian spirit" (Oberholtzer, 1990: 287). Oberholtzer notes that while this explanation is made referencing Sioux material, the explanation may shed some light on Eeyou (Mistissini- Eastern James Bay Quebec Cree) pipes and pipe cleaners as well. (Oberholtzer, 1990: 287).
Cath Oberholtzer, "Pipe Dreams: Pipe Cleaners and Dream Motifs" Papers of the Twenty-first Algonquian Conference. William Cowen, editor. Ottawa: Carleton University, pp. 279-294.

Condition: good.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

NMAI catalogue card.

Current Location: National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C. USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 02/8910
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1850s to 1910
GKS Reference Number: 26029
How to Cite this Item

Item to be cited by Catalog Number, Collection and Institution.

Record Creation Context

Record created as part of practicum fall 2008.

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