Long, long ago, when Kukna, the Mother Earth, was young and the Native people were all one people, there arose a great dispute among them concerning a sacred medicine, the tooth of a certain monster bear.
A Council fire burned for many days and many nights, but no agreement could be reached concerning this, and the people found it impossible to settle their differences or to come to a compromise. After countless debates and meetings, it was finally decided to separate into independent groups. So it was, that many clans and families went their separate ways. In time, many new tribes came into being, speaking new and different tongues and living in different ways.
Now it was that a certain gifted being, called Nanapush, a Spirit helper on this Earth to Kishelamàkânk, the Creator, the Grandfather of human beings and all living creatures, saw that his grandchildren, the Lenapé, the Grandfathers of men, were in great distress, that they were quarreling and drifting apart, and he felt a deep and sincere compassion for them.
So he asked Kishelamàkânk, the Creator of all things: "Kishelamìlenk, oh great Creator, I ask of your counsel. My Lenapé grandchildren need help, for they are deeply troubled." The Creator replied, "Your father, Wunchènewànk, Spirit of the West, once gave you a pipe, symbolizing the peace that came between you two after a settling of your differences. Make such a pipe for the Lenapé that they too through its power might come to find the same peace and understanding, and instruct them in its power and use."
Shortly thereafter, one beautiful day, the great and wise Nanapush was seen standing upon the top of a high mountain, sending up signals of smoke, calling all of his Lenapé grandchildren, our ancestors, to Council. After they were all gathered together in one great assembly in the valley below, Nanapush, the great and gifted being, broke off a piece of stone at his feet and he fashioned the first pipe that was ever seen by our Lenape'wàk. When it was finished, he filled the bowl with the leaves which he pulled off a certain plant, smudged the pipe with winke'mask (sweetgrass), and he blessed it. Then he made a fire of cedar logs and he named it, Tinde Wulankuntowa'kàn--the Fire of Peace. And from this sacred fire he lit this pipe, and smoked it before all of the people. While he smoked the pipe, he talked with them, instructing them in the meaning and use of the pipe. As he smoked, a great peace, a great feeling of understanding, fell upon them. Indeed their hearts became filled with a new kind of joy, good feelings and comfort. So, Nanapush, the strong and wise one, gave his Lenapé grandchildren the pipe as a gift, and he told them that the Creator had instructed them to go to a certain place where they would find a sacred plant growing there which they should smoke in the pipe. This plant was the sacred tobacco, which we call ksha'te.
So it was that the Creator, through Nanapush, gave four sacred gifts to the people: Tinde Wulankuntowa'kàn, the Fire of Peace; hupa'kàn, the pipe; ksha'te, the sacred tobacco; and winke'mask, sweetgrass. Nanpush said, "My grandchildren, my Lenapé people, you are given these four gifts, that through their use you might send your thoughts and prayers to Kishelamàkânk, the Creator, and he will hear. Whenever you are in great trouble or need, whenever you are in Council, build such a fire, bring a pipe into your midst, and the spiritual power of the pipe will immediately begin to cleanse your eyes, throats, hearts, minds and Spirits, of all trouble and evil. As the smoke from the pipe rises to the sky, your thoughts and prayers will be heard by the Creator. Peace and order, and good thinking will be restored among the people.
And so it was, from that day long ago, when Nanapush, the sacred and gifted being, Grandfather of men and every living being, stood upon the top of the Great Mountain and lit the first pipe from the Fire of Peace, that the pipe has been held as sacred and holy, upheld and respected among the people, at all times and places. So ends the story of the coming of the pipe to the Lenapé people.
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