The Native American Church was started by the Kiowa Indians around 1890 and brought to the state of Oklahoma by a Caddo Indian named John Wilson (Big Moon). Quanah Parker, the last Chief of the Comanche's, was a revered leader of the Native American Church movement. Parker was gored by a bull in southern Texas and claimed to only have survived the attack with the aid of a cactus button known as peyote.
Sacred Peyote Medicine
Quanah Parker began teaching the Native people the use of what he now termed, Sacred Peyote Medicine. He claimed it to be a Sacrament given by the Creator. Church members chew the peyote, or take it with water, during their services because it guides them to a closer relationship with God. This, in turn, leads them to live a more responsible life with kindness to one another and love for others.
Peyote Ceremonies
It is common for peyote ceremonies to begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday and continue until breakfast the next morning (sunset to sunrise). There are prayers and singing of special songs. The singing is accompanied by a gourd rattle and a small drum which is beat with fast movement. The songs are in Native language but often a Christian phrase can be heard, such as references to 'Our Savior". The singing is followed by contemplation and various water ceremonies. Much of the worship service depends upon the tribal heritage and personal beliefs of the worshipers. It is thought that peyote allows the congregation to commune with God and with deceased relatives. It is also recognized as a great source of guidance with power to heal the sick whether they suffer from physical or emotional illness. A good many of the services are held especially for healing. They can also be called for baptism, funerals or birthdays. For more information and a brief history of the Native American Church refer to Jay Fikes article.
What Peyotist Believe
The belief of peyote users is summed up by Encyclopedia.com as: 'Peyotism teaches an ethical doctrine much like those of the monotheistic religions. However, it eschews specific Christian theology, its exponents often stating that while Christ came to the whites, peyote came to the Native Americans.' The Native American Church also identifies with some forms of Buddhism, specifically the practice of Zen.
What is Peyote?
Peyote is a small, spineless cactus shaped like a globe. It has been known as powerful medicine since the Mexican pre-Colombian times and was often used as a drug to allow contact with spirits of another world. The peyote button is a source of hallucinatory alkaloid. The use of peyote was challenged as an illegal drug but the Native American Religious Freedom Act of 1994 named it exempt from prosecution when used for religious ceremonies. Peyotism is now used in more than 50 Native American Tribes.
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