The Native American Church (NAC), also known as peyote church, is fairly new to most tribes in the United States. During the 1800’s, there was great suffering and great pain for tribes who were confined to reservations. The loss of their homeland and their way of life led to this suffering and pain. They were no longer able to live their normal way of life, such as hunting, practicing their ceremonies, and speaking their language, which bought balance and harmony to their mind, body, soul, and spirit.

During the time of agony, spiritual uplifting and cultural strengthening were desperately needed. This was the time that the peyote ceremony was introduced to southwestern tribes. The peyote religion spread through other tribes because it provided an alternative to both tribal practices and missionary versions of Christianity. The peyote ceremony, also allowed a connection between traditional sacred practices and the newly founded Christian religion, which was forced on most tribes.

The peyote plant grows mainly in Texas and Mexico. The peyote is considered sacred and venerated (honored with a ritual act of devotion) medicine by many Native tribes (Figure 2). The peyote ceremonies are held for various reasons such as for healing diseases including alcoholism, for baptisms, for funerals, and for birthdays. There are two formal ritual ways to eat peyote during a ceremony. One is by grating the peyote and adding water to make into a paste or mud. The second is by consuming it in the form of tea.

How is alcohol involved?

The Native American Church is actively involved in the treatment of alcohol and substance abuse. Alcohol abuse is one of the major factors in the high rates of morbidity and mortality found among Native Nations across the United States. Whatever the rates may be of alcohol abuse among Natives, the NAC helps treat alcohol abuse by giving hope, transformation, a new way of living, and a sense of power over alcohol with individuals who seek sobriety. “Patients are cured by partaking of peyote and absorbing its pure healing power,” say Professor Garrity, from University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Patients in treatment are not the only ones who seek help for alcoholism. As a matter of fact, past alcohol abuse is what caused a considerable number of roadmen to take up the NAC in the first place.

A roadman is a person who has the responsibility of overseeing the entire ceremony. During the ceremony, prayers and wishes are made for healing, guidance, and strength. One of the key elements of NAC prayer meetings is their ability to help the patient or individual address his/her problems with alcohol or substance abuse. As mentioned above, NAC is held for numerous purposes, including alcohol abuse. To help address the issue of alcohol, the roadman offers counsel, prayers, and encouragement to the individual.

The roadman also encourages the individual to ask the medicine for guidance and strength against the fight with alcohol, as well as to listen to what the medicine tells the individual about their situation, alcohol related or not. Family and friends also help encourage the individual. Many people may attend the ceremony. These participants sing, pray, meditate, and consume peyote during all-night meetings. Individuals are motivated to engage their problems with alcohol in a positive, supportive and encouraging environment.

Peyote offers the opportunity for understanding yourself through “ritualized introspection and self-examination.” The peyote road encourages and stresses, among other things, abstinence of alcohol, self-dependence, and devotion to one’s family.

Depending on the roadman and the individual who seeks help from NAC, the ceremony can take place in a home, hogan or a teepee. The meeting will usually have a moon-shaped altar (Figure 1). Items for the meeting include peyote (grated or tea), fire, water drum, gourd rattle, various feather fans, and prayer staff.

www.erowid.org/plants/peyote.shtml

Figure 1. Moon-shaped altar Figure 2: Peyote plant

Many tribes who use peyote have words for the plant in their own languages. However, many also know and use the word "peyote" as well. Here are the tribes and their common name for the peyote plant: (from http://www.erowid.org/plants/peyote/peyote.shtml)

Comanche: wokowi or whoki

Cora—huatari

Delaware—biisung

Huichol—hícouri, híkuli, hícori, jícori, and xícori

Kickapoo—pee-yot

Kiowa—seni

Mescalero-Apache—ho

Navajo—azee

Omaha—makan

Opata—pe jori

Otomi—beyo

Taos-walena

Tarahumara- híkuli, saelíami, and joutouri

Tepehuane—kamba or kamaba

Wichita—nezats

Winnebago—hunka

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