The carved pipe stem belonged to Chief Hare who was a spiritual leader from the Rosebud Reservation. He was Brule and part Yankton Sioux. His ash stem has porcupine quillwork with bands matching colors of three carved animal figures. The green turtle represents Earth, the orange elk stands for Sunrise and Wisdom, and the brown buffalo symbolizes the bringer of the pipe known as White Buffalo Calf Woman. The stem has sinew-bound, red horse hair representing Lightning and two brass tacks for Hail, as an appeal to Thunder Beings for power.
Larry Belitz, Plains Indian Material Culture Consultant