American Indian Smoke Signals

The smoke signals used by American Indians did not convey the complex messages seen in Hollywood movies. Smoke signals were in fact used among the seminomadic tribes of the Great Plains. However, their content was limited to a few simple messages whose meaning had been agreed upon in advance. For example, Piman warriors in Arizona who had just finished a successful raid might send up a column of smoke, and the village would reply with two columns of smoke. Smoke signals were most commonly used to broadcast news of victory in battle, or to warn of sickness in a camp or dangers such as approaching enemies.

Fires fed with damp grass or boughs of evergreen sent up the one or two simple, unbroken columns of smoke needed to send a message. The place that the signal came from-whether on a hill or in a valley-conveyed most of the meaning. When Apaches out hunting spotted another group of Indians in the distance, they lit a fire conspicuously to the right of their own party that meant, "Who are you?" If the others were friends, they would then use a prearranged reply.