The Story of the Sacred Pipe | Story of God

INTERVIEWER: I'm on my way to meet a man who has been chosen to lead his people in an epic struggle, one that also requires super human endurance. He's asked me to come to Devils Tower in Wyoming. This is Chief Arvol Looking Horse, the Chosen One of the Nakota, Lakota, and Dakota tribes. [music playing]

CHIEF ARVOL LOOKING HORSE: [non-english speech]

INTERVIEWER: Aha. [non-english speech] I brought him a gift of tobacco for his sacred ceremony.

CHIEF ARVOL LOOKING HORSE: Oho. Thank you.

INTERVIEWER: So chief, tell me, why did you want me to meet you here at Devil's Tower?

CHIEF ARVOL LOOKING HORSE: We call it [non-english speech].

INTERVIEWER: [non-english speech]

CHIEF ARVOL LOOKING HORSE: Ah, that's one of our power points of prayer, of worship. It's like a church. This is where White Buffalo Calf Woman brought the sacred pipe to our people.

So the story is that 19 generations ago our people were camped here. At the time, there was no more food because people were abusing life. From a distance they saw a cloud. And then, from that cloud there's a woman. She brought the sacred pipe. She said, I'm bringing this sacred bundle to you that you shall live in peace and harmony. [non-english speech]

INTERVIEWER: The White Buffalo Calf Woman taught Chief Arvol's people how to respect Mother Earth and worship the Great Spirit with the sacred pipe she gave them. Does it still exist?

CHIEF ARVOL LOOKING HORSE: Yes. Since the age of 12 years old, I've been the keeper of the sacred White Buffalo Calf Bundle, or pipe. They call me [non-english speech].

INTERVIEWER: [non-english speech]

CHIEF ARVOL LOOKING HORSE: Mm, [non-english speech]

INTERVIEWER: The White Buffalo Calf pipe is so sacred that Chief Arvol cannot let anyone outside of his tribes see it. So your grandmother was the keeper of the pipe.

CHIEF ARVOL LOOKING HORSE: Yeah.

INTERVIEWER: She said that you were to be next in line?

CHIEF ARVOL LOOKING HORSE: Yes. My grandmother, on her deathbed, she told my family, we are the crossroads. Earth changes, climate changes. And that if the people don't straighten up, then he shall be the last bundle keeper.