Offering Smoke: The Sacred Pipe and Native American Religion [Paperback]

Jordan Paper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1988

Distributed by the University of Nebraska Press for the University of Idaho Press

In this brilliant exploration of the history, mythology, ritual and symbolism of the sacred pipe, author Jordan Paper breaks new ground in assessing the importance of the pipe in Native American religion. Offering Smoke provides a dazzling introduction to an aspect of Native American culture heretofore never explored in such depth or with such careful regard for the religious and cultural sensitivities so vital for genuine understanding.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jordan Paper is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at York University, Ontario, Canada.

Product Details

• Paperback: 161 pages
• Publisher: Caxton Press (January 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0893011266
• ISBN-13: 978-0893011260
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #900,532 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ...this is what we've been saying all along..., July 17, 2000

By 

Zane Ivy (Seoul) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Offering Smoke: The Sacred Pipe and Native American Religion (Paperback)

The book seems to be assembled from what may have originally been a number of different "papers" on the subject. As a result, there is a lot of repetition, but that and the typos here and there and the mislabeled illustrations are a minor issue. The importance of this book is its validation of what Native America has said all along...the "pipe" has been with us for a long while, and it is almost as universal in Native North America as is the ceremonial/spiritual use of tobacco. The author says he hopes his research on the pipe will make "leaders" in the U.S. and Canada reconsider their positions on the use of the pipe in Native American spirituality, as those positions relate to its use (or repression of its use) in various contexts. As a reader, and pipe carrier, I too hope that it has the effect of allowing the use of the pipe in prisons, schools, etc. to increase. Recently I read that Canada is allowing Native citizens to take an oath in the court room using the pipe. Maybe this book has in some way, had an influence on this change for the better.

The author primarily focuses on pipes with detachable stems, that are/have been used in ceremonial contexts. He suggests that archaeological evidence indicates that the use of the pipe may be older than the institutional religion that by and large tried to stamp out its use. His discussion of Native cosmology was also of interest.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Most of Everything You Ever Wanted to Know..., October 4, 2001

By 

Robert Vann "Tsalagi" (Huntsville, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Offering Smoke: The Sacred Pipe and Native American Religion (Paperback)

This book offers an excellent compendium of information about the "calumet", sacred pipe, or "peace pipe", however you call it. It covers the history of this sacred object from antiquity until the past century, with excellent maps, drawings and color photographs. It will satisfy the needs of all, from the casual reader to the serious scholar. The only topic not covered is the techniques of making a pipe from the Catlinite or other pipestone.
It has an extensive bibliography for further research and a very inclusive index.
For what it's worth, I find this book an excellent purchase and it will remain on my reference shelf for some time to come.