Pipestone Honor - Created in the McKinley Area Council in the 1920's it
still exists there today in the current Buckeye Council. It is a five year
honor program at their camp. For more info go to:
http://members.aol.com/T915/Pipestone_Description.htm
Pipestone is a red soft stone (red catlinite) that has been mined in Pipestone, Minnesota for centuries by Native Americans. It is called pipestone because ceremonial pipes were/are made from it among other things. The red stone is believed to be the flesh and blood of their ancestors. I have seen two stories with one stating a great gathering of the ancient ones died in a great flood and the other saying it was during an apocolyptic type battle. The quarry is considered holy ground regardless. It is still mined there by Native Americans and is a 283 acre National Monument. Taking into account the religious nature of the stone to Native Americans, the Pipestone Honor has to be one of the more unique honor programs in scouting. The stones used by the Ohio scouts in their society come from this quarry and are mined by Indians.
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