Biography of Allan Smoke
Allan Smoke, “Holy Flying Hawk”, is Dakota Sioux and a direct descendant of Chief Sitting Bull, born in Belcourt, North Dakota and raised in Manitoba, Canada.
He began his carving career as a result of his own quest – to find a pipe maker who could create his ceremonial pipe. This pipe was shown to Allan through his visions and for eighteen years he searched for someone who could carve his powerful Hiyoka - Thunderbird pipe. Over those years Allan met with several pipe makers who promised they could create the piece however, each time something stopped these people from even starting the project. Many times the pipe makers would hold his piece of stone for six to eight months and still not be able to see Allan’s vision.
Allan prayed to the Creator to help him find a pipe maker who could create this pipe. Finally the answer to this mystery came when Allan had almost given up out of frustration. Allan began to try his hand at stone carving and ended up creating the pipe – identical to what had been shown in his vision. Creator was waiting for him to acknowledge his creative and artistic gift which was the only way for Allan’s pipe to come home.
Since that time Allan has been honored by many Aboriginal Elders and Medicine men across North America who have sought him out to carve their ceremonial pipes; they have trusted him to create the images revealed in their dreams and visions. He is never without inspiration as he only needs to remember the blessings bestowed on his own life, and in celebration to the Great Spirit, make use of his God Given talent.
Allan is always true to his Aboriginal Spirituality and lives his life accordingly. As an active participant in his Native spiritual cultural, Allan is a Sweat Lodge leader, teacher and has been a Sun Dance participant for the last thirteen consecutive years. Before starting this company Allan was at a Sweat Lodge Ceremony and the Spirit gave him permission to create and sell his pipes, he was told that he had earned the right to do this and to share the understanding with all Nations.
Allan works with many different mediums including leather, bone, and wood but prefers the medium of stone. He uses raw alabaster; soap stone and catlinite to hand carve intricate designs and realistic animal images into traditional ceremonial pipes in honor of the Great Spirit who blessed him with this artistic gift. Many of the pipes are inlaid with lead, silver, gold, copper and mother of pearl representing the wind and the other elements depending on what the person sees in their vision. The visions also dictate the placement and number of rings of inlay in a piece. Each piece is lovingly crafted into an original work of art to be cherished by generations to come. Allan is a completely self-taught artist who recognizes that his is a gift given from the Creator to help others understand the Aboriginal spiritual way of life.