Tradition to us means that which has been handed down through the generations or through a culture. In the case of the Pipestone quarriers, most of us have had the tradition, that is cultural, handed down to us thru our family.

We respect the tradition and we respect what the Pipe stands for. Sometimes we are told that we are doing wrong by our own people, they say we are disrespectful of the Pipe. We say that we were the ones that kept the Pipe alive during the time ceremony was banned by the government. We continued during that time to quarry and make Pipes and other articles so that when the ban was lifted in 1976, we knew how to quarry and reach the Catlinite for the many Pipes that were needed for prayer, and we knew how to carve the stone. We continue that Tradition today.

We are offering a way for young Native people to acquire a better knowledge of this ancient tradition that is so sacred to many Tribes around the land.

They may be on a reservation, or they may be in a big city, living like the rest of America, trying to make enough to keep their head above water. However the one thing they have in common is their heritage and their ancestors watching them from afar.

We all believe that to shed our sweat and blood to reach the Sacred stone and to touch something that has been asleep under the quartzite for many millennium - allowing that sleeping entity to awaken by our hands - is a great honor. We hope that young Tribal people will want to join us in this spiritual undertaking, and will want to continue this Sacred work for the People..

Would you like to know more about the Pipestone Quarries, traditional Quarrying and Pipe making?

The Original Pipestone Dakota Community in conjunction with the Little Feather Center, the Pipestone Catlinite Quarriers Guild, and Spirit of Peace Crafts are hosting this two day experiential seminar for enrolled Native American people entitled 'Quarrying for the Sacred Red Stone'.

Further workshops on pipe making alone will also be offered for those needing them. The Pipe making sessions do not require that you be enrolled.

There will be a number of workshops over each two day session, and later on we can present a further week long learning experience for those requiring it, where both quarrying and Pipe making will be covered in depth.

If you are interested in attending these workshops, please contact us. They will be held in the summer 2005, and we will space them throughout June, July, August and September if there is a need for this. All meals and camping will be provided by us, tools for quarrying and pipemaking will be available on loan for the two days.