Tomahawks
Tomahawks are small axes with historical significance among North American Indigenous peoples, derived from the Algonquian word "otomahuk," meaning "to knock down." Traditionally, these tools featured a head made from stone or bone attached to a lightweight wooden handle, typically measuring around eighteen inches or less. With the arrival of Europeans, metal-headed tomahawks began to be crafted, becoming important trade items between Indigenous communities and settlers. Tomahawks served multiple purposes, including as weapons in battles, tools for chopping wood, and for hunting. Additionally, some tomahawks held ceremonial importance; for instance, the "pipe tomahawk" was used in rituals, featuring a pipe bowl for smoking. The phrase "bury the hatchet" is believed to stem from Indigenous peace customs, where a tomahawk would be buried to signify the end of conflict. Tomahawks thus represent both practical utility and cultural importance in Indigenous traditions.
Tomahawks
Tribes affected: Pantribal
Significance: Tomahawks were both weapons and tools that aided North American Indians in fundamental survival
“Tomahawk” comes from a word from the Algonquian language family, otomahuk, meaning “to knock down.” Tomahawks are small axes that were used by North American Indians as tools, weapons, and hunting devices.
Originally, tomahawks consisted of a head made of stone or bone mounted on a wooden handle. These tomahawks generally measured eighteen inches in length or less and were light in weight. Following the arrival of the Europeans, hatchets with metal heads were being made by white artisans. These tomahawks became a valuable trading item between whites and Native Americans.
Indians used tomahawks as throwing hatchets against their enemies in battle. They were also used to chop wood, to drive stakes into the ground, and to hunt food. Some tomahawks were not used as Native American weapons, but were used as part of ceremonies. One example of this type of tomahawk is a “pipe tomahawk,” which had a pipe bowl attached to its head and a hollow handle. These tomahawks were smoked during ceremonies. It is widely believed that the expression “bury the hatchet” came from the Indian custom of burying a tomahawk as part of a peace ceremony at the end of hostilities among Indians.