Kassandra Horta-Tovar

Rels: 2400-002
The Pluralism Project (Part II)
Native American Church
As the Europeans stepped onto the New World, the Native American peoples lives would
be changed forever. The first known religion that was on American soil was of the Native
American people. In the Native American culture there are a couple hundred tribes and in each of
those tribes, there are different languages. With the many tribes that exist there are many
religious identities, some of which have evolved from more traditional religions and beliefs in
order to conform to the American Christianized society that was developed when their
homeland was invaded. One of the major religions that evolved in this way was the Native
American Church. Throughout history the indigenous people have had a difficult time trying to
be accepted into society. Because of the struggle they went through their beliefs have become an
even more important part of their lives than before.
Before Christianity and the Europeans came to America, Peyote was widely used in
Mexico. It progressively moved north and even made it to parts of Canada to tribes like the
Sioux. Scholars say it is difficult to find evidence of religious beliefs and information before the
Europeans came because tribes did not have written languages. The scholars did trace Peyote to
be used as a sacrament in 200 A.D. Use of Peyote is estimated to have started about 10,000 years
ago.
When the Europeans made contact with the indigenous people they knew the indigenous people
were going to need to be converted to their Christian beliefs, they wanted to make them more
civilized. These immigrants would see the Indigenous people using the Peyote in their rituals

and would consider it a drug problem. Later, they would try to outlaw Peyotism because they
considered it to be associated to witchcraft and cannibalism. For a while they were able to drive
out the indigenous Peyote based religions but would not be able to keep it away. The indigenous
people were scared away from their beliefs at first but the Europeans could not keep them away
from the beliefs they had grown up with, the beliefs their ancestors practiced. Eventually Peyote
use was banned in America.
The Peyote cactus is a small spineless desert cactus that contains strong alkaloids
including mescaline, which is a hallucinogenic substance that contains high visionary
characteristics. Consumption of the Peyote plant only happened during religious rituals. Peyote is
cut into buttons, dried and chewed or can be brewed in a tea for the religious rituals. It is
believed that Peyote can heal mental sickness of the mind, body, and soul but cannot heal
physical sickness like asthma or diabetes. To them it is also known as the Great Spirit and even
the Flesh of God.
While trying to conform to a Christianized society but keeping their beliefs and practices,
two men, the last Comanche Chief Quanah Parker and John Wilson also known as Moon head
created new forms of Peyotism. Wilson was introduced to Peyotism through Comanche tribes.
Both men created new separate versions of Peyotism which included both Peyote and Christian
beliefs. Chief Quanah Parker would even say that women should also be allowed to participate in
the rituals as well. They practices and took these version of the new religions to many tribes,
with prayers to Jesus and original Peyote chants. The tribes that they visited included the
Cheyenne, Sioux, and Blackfoot. There are different versions of Peyotism within various tribes
but all include the Peyote plant.

Eventually around 1918, Peyotists got together and formed the Native American Church
also known as Peyotism. This group was fighting for the preservation and continued use of the
Peyote rituals and sacraments. The Native American Church claimed some 250,000 advocates in
1977, but nonbelievers still fought back. States continued to fight for the ban of religious use of
Peyote. Peyotists continued to fight for their religious rights saying God had sent them this plant
as a Holy Medicine and Christian Sacrament. Eventually the Federal courts affirmed the right to
sacramental use by Native American Church members. Challenges for the Native American
people continued to appear until 1998 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the right of States to
control peyote use in rituals. States that eventually permitted religious use of peyote included
Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Minnesota, and Nevada. The
religious right of the Native American people are now protected by the 14th Amendment.
The Native American Church also known as the Peyote Road is a minority religion and
has beliefs used in different traditions and also includes Christian beliefs. The Native American
Church is a monotheistic religion believing in the Great Spirit. Members are allowed to
interpret the bible however they see fit. Their moral beliefs are very similar to those of Christian
beliefs. Which include abstaining from alcohol while consuming Peyote, which helps lower the
craving, being faithful to their spouse, praying for peace and for the sick, and being truthful.
The Native American Church has grown profusely, with both its Christian and Peyote
belief. But in the past few years the members in the Church have decreased for reasons unknown.
The Native American Church has 80 chapters and members belonging to at least seventy tribes.
Every State in the U.S., west of Mississippi has at least on chapter. In order to be a member of
the Native American Church you have to have proof you are certain percent Native American
and have to be a recognizable member of the church. In the Native American Church they have

membership cards for their members and someone will typically have to earn the church
members trust in order to participate in the Peyote ceremonies. The diversity of its membership
within the Native American tribes has made it the largest Native American religious
organization. The church does not have paid clergy. The Big Moon or Cross Fire meeting take
place where Christianity has been infused the most. The sacred tradition of smoking tobacco
wrapped in a corn husk is not used in the rituals, the bible as taken its place.
In the Native American Church, singing takes up about 60% of the churches devotional
ritual. The singing is done in their native language with phrases like Jesus Only and Hes the
Savior said in English. Every worshiper gets the opportunity to sing with drums. Only about 1530 members are allowed to participate in the ceremony at a time. Ages varying from14-years and
older. These rituals are led by a Road man or medicine man which have various instruments that
are used within the ceremony. A Peyote Box is where the sacred instruments are kept.
Different kits contain a variety of different instruments used throughout the ceremony. Items
inside the kits might include owl wing fans, prayer feathers, rosaries, pouches with dried Peyote,
crucifixes and/or religious medals, drumsticks and pictures. Participants may use shawls,
drumsticks, and blankets inside their own kits while practicing the ritual as well.
Peyote rituals happen only on special occasion like baptisms, birthdays, and funerals.
Ceremonies are conducted inside a teepee they usually begin around 8 in the evening on
Saturday lasting all through the night until Sunday morning ending with a big breakfast. The
reason why they have a big breakfast at the conclusion of the ceremony is because they are asked
to fast before the rituals in case they are healed during the ceremony. Participants sit in circle
inside the teepee at the center of the teepee where the ritual is held, opposite of the doorway is a
half-moon shape in the center at the top is where they place the Peyote plant. The Peyote plant is

consumed clock-wise around the circle of participants. Transforming Journey is what the
members refer to the experience as the night begins. Throughout the night the worshippers sing,
drum, meditate, and consume the Peyote.
It is things like this that have evolved the Native American Religions and created new
forms of the religion in order to be accepted in society as a Native American Church which
ended up growing throughout the Native American tribes. The Native American people have
fought and are still fighting for their beliefs and religious rights throughout the centuries. It was
my pleasure to be able to learn about how they have evolved and be able to write about it from
my understanding within the research I have done. To my understanding it is very difficult to be
part of any Native American religion not only because you have to be a certain percentage Native
American but because they are still fighting for their religious rights. Because of their struggle
their religion has become a huge part of them and their identities of who they are.

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