With
a picture of a vibrantly colored peyote button, and a bold motto regarding
protection and preservation of peyote and its sacramental use, it is obvious to
the reader at first glance that The Peyote Foundation’s web site is an
advocacy web site. There is no way to tell if the site (and the Peyote
Foundation itself) was created by Natives or Euroamericans, but regardless, the
site is clearly promoting peyote as a source of spiritual devotion and
inspiration, and “defending” the Native’s right to the sacramental use of
Peyote.
The
Peyote Foundation states that they are “Dedicated to the protection and
promotion of the peyote cactus and its sacramental use” (www.peyote.net/welcome).
Their web site explores numerous different aspects of Peyote, such as
“Peyote as an inspirational Medicine,” “Traditional rehabilitative
therapy,” “Peyote’s ancient history of religious use,” “Natural
populations of Peyote in decline,” and “Cultivation” (www.peyote.net/welcome.html#site).
These aspects are looked at individually, yet together they are interwoven to
suggest cultural preservation, promotion and survival. As Leo Mercado says,
“---the fact that the Peyote religion continues to exist despite centuries of
persecution is a testament to its importance in the spiritual lives of many”
(Leo Mercado, www.peyote.net/faq.htm).
The Peyote Foundation hopes that “By creating a working example, [they]
will maintain the peyote road for generations to come” (www.peyote.net/foundation).
From
the very beginning, the Native’s sacramental use of Peyote has been and
continues to be an essential element to their cultural and its survival. “In
the mid 1800’s, simultaneous with Native genocide, the peyote religion spread
north, arriving at a time when indigenous people were badly in need off
spiritual uplifting and cultural strength” (www.peyote.net/religion.html).
The Peyote Foundation not only stresses the importance of the sacramental
consumption of peyote, but also, the awareness, appreciation, caring, and
respect of the plant itself. They view peyote as a source of spiritual devotion
and inspiration, and hence, respecting all of these elements is necessary for
cultural preservation, promotion, and survival.
At
the peyote Foundation, we each have our own personal areas of life which the
medicine seems to point out to our hearts. One inspiration which we hold in
common is the spiritual responsibility to caretake peyote in a respectful way.
We believe that caring for the living peyote plant in this manner is a spiritual
devotion in and of itself. This is an act which requires devotion and patience.
The daily rewards of having these mandala-like plants in one’s presence brings
an obvious blessing to the heart and mind. It is not so much then, the
consumption of peyote from which we derive benefit, but also, the appreciation
and awareness of what the plant and its growth cycle is that provides a daily
source of inspiration (www.peyote.net/inspira2.html).
While
carefully reading and evaluating this web site, I used four specific criteria
for evaluation: 1.) Who is responsible for this web site; 2.) The purpose of why
this web site was created; 3.) The motives for creating this web site; and 4.)
The audience this web site is intended for.
As
I mentioned earlier, it was not hard to figure out who is responsible for this
web site. The Peyote Foundation clearly identifies themselves on their home
page. But unfortunately, there is no way of knowing if The Peyote Foundation is
a group of Natives, Euroamericans, or both.
The web page is an advocacy web page, but it is not “pushy;” it provides information to benefit and increase one’s own knowledge and awareness of peyote, and to inspire those who are already familiar with the way of the “peyote road.” In their “Mission Statement,” The Peyote Foundation explains that “As a foundation we will provide information about the peyote cactus and its religions, develop conservation programs for the species and provide inspiration to those who choose the peyote road”
(www.peyote.net/foundation).
As a foundation aside from their web site, their purpose for existence is not
only that of what is mentioned immediately above, but also to preserve the
sacred cactus: “[they] believe harboring the peyote to be a religious function
in and of itself. Therefore, it is [their] blessing and honor to responsibly
preserve and propagate the peyote at [their] facility in the Gila Valley of
Arizona” (www.peyote.net/foundation).
The Peyote Foundation’s motives are not explicitly put
forth, but it can be inferred that they created their web site not only to
advocate their own foundation, but also in order to advocate the importance of
preserving, promoting and honoring the “divine cactus” (www.peyote.net/conserva.html),
so that it can continue to be used as an active source of spiritual devotion and
inspiration. Through the preservation of peyote, they are also implicitly
advocating the importance of the plant in the native community, as well as the
preservation and survival of the Native’s culture.
The
Peyote Foundation believes that an effort to establish a conservation program is
long overdue. While [they] encourage preservation efforts in its [peyote] native
habitat, [they] also feel that it is the responsibility of those people who
honor the divine cactus to grow it (www.peyote.net/conserva.html).
This
web site is intended for anyone interested in preserving peyote, as well as
learning about it. In their “Mission Statement,” The Peyote Foundation
states that “We encourage participation from everyone interested in preserving
the peyote, regardless of race or creed” (www.peyote.net/foundation).
They also publish a journal, “The Peyote Foundation Journal,” as “a
communication and education forum for the numerous and varied groups and
individuals who are interested in the divine cactus” (www.peyote.net/foundation).
They are not selective in regards to their audience, but rather, they wish to
share their wealth of knowledge and preservation efforts of peyote with anyone
and everyone interested.
While
reading this web site, I did not feel as if I was being pressured into The
Peyote Foundation’s preservation efforts. On the contrary, I felt as if I was
being invited to explore the wonderful world of peyote. Their “Mission
Statement” (www.peyote.net/foundation) provided a personal touch that was
comforting to me as a reader, and encouraged me to read more. I enjoyed the
various different links provided by this web site about peyote: “Peyote as an
inspirational medicine” (www.peyote.net/inspira2.html), “Traditional
rehabilitative therapy” (www.peyote.net/traditional.html), “ Peyote’s
ancient history of religious use” (www.peyote.net/religion.html) “Natural
populations of peyote in decline” (www.peyote.net/conserva.html), “ Home in
the Gila Valley of Arizona” (www.peyote.net/gila.html), “Cultivation
notes” (www.peyote.net/faq.htm),
“Poetry” (www.peyote.net/poem.html), “Frequently asked questions” (www.peyote.net/faq/htm),
“Mission Statement of the Peyote Foundation” (www.peyote.net/foundation.html),
“pictures” (www.peyote.net/pictures.htm),
“ The Peyote Foundation
Journal” (www.peyote.net/journal.html), and “Membership and Subscription
information” (www.peyote.net/membersh.htm), and felt that my knowledge of
peyote was strengthened by reading them. But most of all, I commend The Peyote
Foundation’s efforts in preserving peyote.
As we learned in One Nation under God: The Triumph of the Native American Church, written by Huston Smith and Rueben Snake, peyote is a crucial element of the Native American religion and culture. Taking away peyote would be paramount to taking away the Native American’s religious freedom; the use of peyote is the essence of their religious expression. Albert Hensley, a Winnebago educated at the Carlisle Indian School, and strong defender of the Native’s religious freedom, stresses the importance of peyote by saying: “To us [Winnebago] it is a portion of the body of Christ---even as the communion bread is believed to be a portion of Christ’s body by other Christian denominations. Christ spoke of a Comforter who was to come. It never came to Indians until it was sent by God in the form of this Holy Medicine” (Smith and Snake, 171). Personally, I would feel robbed, devastated and incredibly disrespected if the government prohibited me from partaking in the Eucharist. Thus so, I feel it would be tragic to deny peyote to the Natives, and any efforts to preserve the sacred cactus I find extraordinarily laudable.
(end of review)
Bethany,
Hello and thank you for sending you glowing website review. I am
actually slightly ashamed of the way it doesn't measure up to the ideas I hold and potentials for it as an information source. I feel the need
to maintain the web presence as a more efficiently categorized and more general info retrieval system (as it relates to peyote and the culture
and tradition surrounding), working at levels which would assist a broader spectrum; perhaps judicial and law enforcement specifically.
Also contacts from students of all levels have been increasing and I don't see their needs being met at the primary reference article level.
(links to papers and etc.) Unfortunately also, I am not happy with the focus on TPF or our necessary but trying legal sojourns as of late.
The fact is that of all the pressing occupations, needs, and projects on my table, the website and individual correspondence are most likely to
be set on a back burner first. Translation: I haven't made the time to create the website I envision.
The good news is that it and we even exist! So again, thank you for noticing and appreciating it. As this place and our evolution as a
family and community oriented organization grows, we will not only define our lives more accurately reflecting teachings received, but we
will also better serve the goals I have defined as education, conservation, and inspiration. That, for me, about covers it-
especially when acknowledging that the inspiration part is largely made up of what the Native American Church espouses as its foundations;
Faith, Love, Hope, and Charity.
On a personal level, we are made up of people of all backgrounds and ethnicitys. I am a local boy of 39 yrs born to Mexicano parents, making me, I guess we say these days, Chicano. Whatever. If I thought about it enough, I might think that our Foundation family and visitors compromise an accurate proportional slice of America specifically, but actually, the world. We have had folks attend ceremonies here who were born on Indian reservations, NYC, Johannesburg S.A., Nigeria, Jerusalem, Mexico, Canada, basically everywhere. Doctors, Lawyers, Indian Chiefs, military men and women, federal employees, rainbow people, poor and wealthy have all shared stories, prayers, and medicine here. Oftentimes, people actually "learn" how to pray, something that seems expected, but hardly ever taught or discussed. Traditional use of peyote cuts very far across tribal lines firstly, and genetic lines also. Yet, the largest portions of what my understanding of how to use and learn from peyote comes from "Indian" people. I have been lucky enough to share time and maybe even a little understanding with native people in both the US and Mexico who respect peyote as a medicine and teacher. My approach has given me a very wide view of what is most certainly at the very least an inter-tribal, non localized, cosmopolitan phenomena. It is my opinion that what makes it good for me is that "peyotism" is really an event marrying humankind and nature. This is off the map of genetic, social/political, and even religious agendas. It is a spiritual relationship unique to the individual as well. What has lacked in this IMO is access to relevant AND accurate information. When as a culture we can classify social elements, lifestyles, and substances by actual values reflecting scientific and historical fact, we can literally re-invent social policies and our own understandings that relate to these things. When we can do this on an individual level, I believe, we can at least get a handle on cleaning up our own act.
Anyway, I will stop now. Would it be ok to create a page of your review
and maybe pat ourselves on the back online with it? Let me know and thank you.
Leo Mercado
MR. Mercado - Yes, you can definetly use my review as a page on your
web site. You deserve to be patted on the back.I would be honored to contribute to your cause. Maybe in the future I can help you with articles
or information for your web site, Let me know. I'd like to help.
Bethany
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