Native American Church

Native American Church, a religious denomination which practices Peyotism or Peyote religion, originated in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and is the most widespread indigenous religion among Native Americans. Peyotism involves the use of the entheogen Peyote, a spineless cactus. Image File history File links USVA_emblem. ... Image File history File links USVA_emblem. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  Ranked 20th  - Total 69,898 sq mi (181,196 km²)  - Width 230 miles (370 km)  - Length 298 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ... The term indigenous people has no universal, standard or fixed definition, but can be used about any ethnic group who inhabit the geographic region with which they have the earliest historical connection. ... A Sioux in traditional dress including war bonnet, circa 1908. ... This entry covers entheogens in the strict sense of the word (i. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Genera See Taxonomy of the Cactaceae A cactus (plural cacti, cactuses or cactus)SEE REBECCA I WAS RIGHT is any member of the succulent plant family Cactaceae, native to the Americas. ...

History of the Peyote Religion

Peyote was used in the territory of modern-day Mexico in pre-Columbian times to commune with the spirit world and also as a medicine. In the mid 15th century, the use of peyote spread to the Great Plains area of the United States primarily through the efforts of the Apache people. Statistics are uncertain, but Peyotism is practiced in more than 50 Indian tribes and probably around 250,000 adherents.[1][2] The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the Americas continent. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... For the chemical substances known as medicines, see medication. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... The Great Plains covers much of the central United States, portions of Canada and Mexico. ...

Peyotist belief varies considerably from tribe to tribe. Among the various beliefs are: belief in Jesus as a Native American culture hero, an intercessor for man or a spiritual guardian; belief in the Bible; belief in Peyote personified as a God; and association of Jesus with Peyote. Peyotists believe in a supreme God as well as several lesser gods or spirits. The "Peyote Road" calls for Indian brotherly love (i.e. Indian Nationalism), family care, self-support through work, avoidance of alcohol, and avoidance of recreational drug use. This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... A culture hero is a historical or mythological hero who changes the world through invention or discovery. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

A peyote button

Traditionally, peyote is used in pursuit of bona fide religious faith in ceremony daily, and at all times; ceremony is a way of life practiced by Shaman, mystics, and medicine people. Peyote ritual or ceremony can be conducted by ones-self and Creator, with a guide, or in a group, at any place or time The Spirit or Creator and the participant deem it necessary. Ceremony or ritual is not limited to tipis or hogans, or to a certain number of people. Peyote from http://www. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

For some chapters of the Native American Church, the peyote ritual begins at 8 p.m. Saturday and continues through the night. The ritual includes prayer, the eating of peyote, Peyote songs, water rituals, and contemplation. It ends with breakfast Sunday morning. The peyote ritual is believed to allow communion with Gods and the deceased and to give power, guidance, and healing. The healing may be emotional or physical, or both. Mary Magdalene in prayer. ... Peyote songs are a form of Native American music, performed as part of the Native American Church. ...

Many Tribes practice inipi ceremonies, a.k.a. Sweat lodge, which involve prayer, singing, and the taking of the peyote sacrament. These ceremonies are of shorter duration than a NAC tipi peyote ceremony, and are performed during the day, and at night. The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...

For those Church members who feel they need structure, the communal ingestion of peyote and the ceremony of the Church meeting helps participants get into a proper relationship with each other and with God. In turn this leads to an ability to live a good day-to-day life. Church members have a very strong community awareness. A good life is considered to be one that is kind and responsible--and over and above all else, one that embodies love. Native people have turned to the Church and relied on it when their lives have been beset by substance-abuse or domestic problems.

In regards to the ideal frame of mind and manner of conduct, the Native American Church has affinity with various forms of Christianity. But it also has close affinity with the values of some forms of Buddhism, Zen for example. The renowned Zen Buddhist scholar D.T. Suzuki wrote that the aspects of this life were: a life of humility; a life of labor; a life of service; a life of prayer and gratitude; and a life of meditation. This is quite close to what the Native American Church deems to be a proper life. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... A silhouette of a Buddha statue at Ayutthaya, Thailand. ... For other uses, see Zen (disambiguation). ... Dr. Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki (1870, Kanazawa, Japan - 1966; standard transliteration: Suzuki Daisetsu, 鈴木大拙) was a famous author of books and essays on Buddhism and Zen that were instrumental in spreading interest in Zen to the West. ...

Peyotism has faced many legal challenges for Indians and non-Indians. In the United States, federal law currently restricts peyote use in religious ceremonies to members of Federally Recognized Tribal entities; and although the Native American Religious Freedom Act of 1994 and 1996 specifically states that Native Americans are exempt from persecution under the law; Native Americans still are fighting for their everyday birthright and freedoms. They are still being persecuted and illegally incarcerated for practicing their freedom of religion. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

The Native American Church Movement

Quanah Parker

Quannah Parker is credited as the founder of the Native American Church Movement, which started in the 1890s, and formally incorporated in 1918. Parker adopted the peyote religion after reportedly seeing a vision of Jesus Christ while suffering from a near fatal wound following a battle with Federal Troops. Peyote is reported to contain hordenine and tyramine, phenylethylamine alkaloids which act as potent natural antibiotics when taken in a combined form. Parker was given peyote by a Ute medicine man to cure the infections of his wounds. During the peyote experience, Parker claimed he heard the voice of Jesus Christ who then appeared to him, and told him in order to atone for his many killings and misdeeds, he must forsake a life of violence and conflict and take the peyote religion to the Indian Peoples. Parker's words and teachings comprise the core of the Native American Church Doctrine and the "Peyote Road." Image File history File links Chief_Quanah_Parker_of_the_Kwahadi_Comanche. ... Image File history File links Chief_Quanah_Parker_of_the_Kwahadi_Comanche. ... Quanah Parker Quanah Parker (c. ... The 1890s were sometimes referred to as the Mauve Decade, because William Henry Perkins aniline dye allowed the widespread use of that colour in fashion, and also as the Gay Nineties, under the then-current usage of the word gay which referred simply to merriment and frivolity, with no... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Hordenine is a potent phenylethylamine alkaloid with antibacterial and antibiotic properties produced in nature by several varieties of plants in the family Cactacea. ... Tyramine (4-hydroxy-phenethylamine) is a monoamine compound derived from the amino acid tyrosine. ... Phenethylamine is an alkaloid and monoamine. ... An alkaloid is a nitrogenous organic molecule that has a pharmacological effect on humans and other animals. ... The Utes (; yoots) are an ethnically related group of American Indians now living primarily in Utah and Colorado. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

Parker taught that the Sacred Peyote Medicine was the Sacrament given to all Peoples by the Creator, and was to be used with water when taking communion in some Native American Church medicine ceremonies. Parker created the "half-moon" style of the peyote ceremony. The "cross fire" ceremony (originally called the "Blue Moon" ceremony) later evolved in Oklahoma (initially among the Kiowa Indians) due to influences introduced by John Wilson, a Caddo Indian who traveled extensively with Parker during the early days of the Native American Church movement. The Native American Church was the first truly "American" religion based on Christianity outside of the Latter Day Saints. The Kiowa are a nation of Native Americans who lived mostly in the plains of west Texas, Oklahoma and eastern New Mexico at the time of the arrival of Europeans. ... The Caddo are a nation, or group of tribes, of Southeastern Native Americans who, in the 16th century, inhabited much of what is now East Texas, Western Louisiana and portions of southern Arkansas and Oklahoma. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... A Latter Day Saint is an adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement, a group of denominations tracing their heritage to the teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Parker's most famous teaching regarding the Spirituality of the Native American Church:

The White Man goes into his church and talks about Jesus. The Indian goes into his Tipi and talks with Jesus.

The modern reservation era in Native American History saw many tribes adopting this religion. The Peyote religion and the Native American Church, however, was never the traditional religious practice of North American Indian Cultures. This religion was created by Parker's vision of Christ and was driven by influences from Mexico and other Southern Tribes who have used peyote since ancient times. Under Parker's leadership, peyote became an important item of trade, and this, combined with his Church movement and political and financial contacts, garnered Parker enormous wealth during his lifetime. A tipi of the Nez Perce tribe, circa 1900. ...

The Peyoteros of Southern Texas

The peyote religion evolved an elaborate trade network which has persisted since pre-Columbian times, in Southern Texas, with designated harvesters of the peyote in Rio Grande City,Texas, and Mirando City,Texas. The Peyoteros are a group of closely knit families of Spanish ancestry who have harvested peyote for Native Americans since the early 1700s. The modern peyoteros still harvest peyote in the same manner as their ancestors, with a machete' and a very small work crew of young and sometimes old men. Peyote is harvested and dried after the crowns of the plants are removed at ground level; cut at an angle, to allow water to run off. The peyoteros never dig up peyote, but rather cut the tops of the cactus crowns at ground level with a machete'. Peyote plants create large taproots with an extensive root system, and the plants slowly regenerate new heads after harvest, often producing a much larger plant after several years of regrowth. Currently, Peyote is being overharvested. seriously endangering the existence of the local populations of peyote. There are only 3 licensed Peyoteros left in Texas, due to overhavesting, and illegal poaching, and strict licensing and tax regulations by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the U.S. Federal government. They are attempting to make Peyote inaccessible to the people. When the people listen to what the Peyote Medicine has to say, and follow their true higher spirit selves, government has no authority. Only Creator has authority. That is the truth, regardless of the pervasive fear and terror used to scare people into submission. Two Peyoteros in South Texas are Mauro Morales of Rio Grande City, Texas, and Salvador Johnson of Mirando City,, Texas. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ...

Indians are permitted to purchase peyote to supply the Native American Church both in person and via US Mails "Restricted Delivery" procedures. Special ceremonies are performed with the harvested and dried peyote medicine in order to bless it for use as a sacrament for Native American Church rituals and ceremonies.

All three of the peyoteros are licensed by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and operate under DEA 225 permits. Peyoteros are also required to be registered with the State of Texas Department of Public Safety, for a hefty fee over $1,200 per year, in a poverty stricken area of south Texas. Legitimate Native American Church Branches are required to register with the Texas Department of Public Safety in order to purchase, harvest, transport, or cultivate peyote. This is a religious issue, not a racial issue. Non-Indian churches not affiliated with Federally Recognized Tribal entities are not eligible for registration with the Texas Department of Public Safety at this time.

The Fabled White Peyote of The Grand Canyon and Four Corners Area

Archaeological discoveries in Arizona and Southern Texas indicate that peyote has been used by the Southwestern Tribes and their ancestors since antiquity. Peyote has been found carbon dated as 10,000 years old in caves in Southern Texas and Arizona. The mummified samples did not resemble modern peyote and were larger and more domed in comparison to modern populations of Lophophora williamsii. These samples also contained up to 6% mescaline by weight even after thousands of years in a desiccated state. Modern Lophophora varieties average 3% mescaline in comparison. The Dine (Navajo) oral traditions and those of other Southwest tribes indicate that a cold tolerant, high altitude variety of peyote existed in the area of the Grand Canyon in ancient times^{[citation needed]}, called "white peyote" which was rumored to be of cosmic potency. Mummified cat from Ancient Egypt. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Navajo (also Navaho) people of the southwestern United States call themselves the Diné (pronounced ), which roughly means the people. They speak the Navajo language, and many are members of the Navajo Nation, an independent government structure which manages the Navajo reservation in the Four Cs area of the United...

Recent discoveries and botanical evidence indicates modern Lophophora species may in fact be divergent hybrids of Lophophora diffusa and a species recently named Lophophora brackii^{[citation needed]}, a high altitude domed "white" peyote with 'Z' patterns and articulated ribbing that originates from a single population confined to a mountain near Viesca, in the northern state of Coahuila, Mexico. Modern Lophophora varieties exhibit pollen structure which ranges from 3 pored pollen from its western ranges up to 9 pored pollen in the Eastern Range where Lophophora decipiens grows under extremely arid conditions, characteristics of a natural hybrid. Lophophora diffusa more closely resembles primitive cacti than the other Lophophora varieties and this species also exists as an isolated population in a mountainous area and is more cold tolerant^{[citation needed]} than Lophophora williamsii populations. Binomial name (Croizat) Bravo Lophophora diffusa (also called Peyote) is a species of plant in the Cactaceae family. ... Viesca is a small town located in the southwest of the Coahuila State in the region known as La Laguna (spanish for The Lagoon). ... Coahuila (formal name: Coahuila de Zaragoza) is one of Mexicos 31 component states. ... Binomial name (Lem. ...

Currently, Peyote is on the Endangered Species List in Mexico, where it is more abundant than in the U.S. where it is not on the Endangered Species List. It is currently illegal to harvest peyote species in Mexico as all Cacti are protected under CITES and the Mexican Government has enacted strict laws to protect native cactus species. This article is about the desert plant. ... The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between Governments, drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). ... Genera See Taxonomy of the Cactaceae A cactus (plural cacti, cactuses or cactus)SEE REBECCA I WAS RIGHT is any member of the succulent plant family Cactaceae, native to the Americas. ...

See also

• Indigenous peoples of the Americas
• Freedom of thought

Native Americans redirects here. ... Freedom of thought (also called freedom of conscience and freedom of ideas) is the freedom of an individual to hold or consider a fact, viewpoint, or thought, regardless of anyone elses view. ...

References

External links

• Listing of Native American Churches
• Peyote Way