The pipe is sacred to First Nations people. This ceremony was also regarded as the way by which participants would be truthful, respectful and abide by the decisions and agreements that were made during the meeting time.
Tobacco that has been blessed through prayer is normally used for the ceremony. The pipe is usually kept in a sacred bundle that is owned by the pipe carrier and only he/she (or a helper) is allowed to open the bundle to prepare for the ceremony.
The participants sit in a circle with the pipe carrier. The helper places the sacred tobacco into the pipe and lights it in front of the pipe carrier. The pipe carrier, who is the host of the ceremony, says prayers to seven cardinal points:
the Four Directions; the Above or Spirit World; the Below or Mother Earth; and the Centre or all living things. The pipe is then passed to the participants for them to either touch or smoke it.
The passing of the pipe can be repeated several times. The tobacco is then allowed to “die” and the pipe is disassembled to be returned to the bundle until the next ceremony.
After this, the pipe carrier may speak a few words of gratitude about life and expectations; each participant is also invited to speak such words; and the ceremony is considered closed.