The Native American Church and the Sacrament of Peyote

A conversation with Native American Church leaders Steven Benally and Sandor Iron Rope, who discussed the centuries-old sacramental use of plant medicines such as peyote. They explored the history of the persecution of this plant medicine and the Indigenous peoples and cultures for whom it is sacred, and how Indigenous perspectives might complicate or challenge the contemporary “psychedelic renaissance.”
Learn more about the HDS Center for the Study of World Religions: cswr.hds.harvard.edu/
Learn more about Harvard Divinity School: hds.harvard.edu/
Steven S. Benally is a member of the Dine Nation (aka Navajo Nation), a lifelong member of the Azee Bee Nahagha, Peyote Ceremonial way of life, a practitioner. He served as the President of Azee Bee Nahagha of Dine Nation for nine years and as a member of the National Council of Native American Churches/Azee Bee Nahagha of Dine Nation. He is a founding member of the Board of Directors for the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative and is currently working as a Regional Conservationist.
Sandor Iron Rope represents the Lakota Oyate, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He is a lifelong member and practitioner of the Native American Church of South Dakota (NACSD). He has nine years experience leading the National NAC and is the current President of the NACSD. Mr. Iron Rope received his Bachelors of Science in Human Services and American Indian Studies from the Black Hills State University. He is the executive director of a family healing center called Tiognaka Tawowakan Otokahe (the beginning of a Sacred Home). He is a current board member of the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative (IPCI). He is committed to Indigenous Cultural Preservation and Peyote Conservation.

[@Thx392]

Thank you for bringing on indigenous leaders and thank you to them both for sharing. ❤️

[@theianyx6394]

the WISDOM of these men is worthy of being spoken and heard at the United Nations!! a wisdom for humanity! 🙏

[@olivermolyneux-dz8sr]

I am from Melbourne Australia. Very similar things happen in AUS, they were called missions. robbed and punished for speaking their own language and spiritual customs. We also stole children and moved them to different places in the country to be raised in a white family. Early Settlers, 18th century used to contaminate rivers with small pox in an effort to ethnic cleanse. Queen Victoria surprisingly stoped early ethnic cleansing, Aboriginal and Torres straight were not considered a citizen until 1967 due to a constitutional referendum. My heart relates to this man's story, your history and Trauma. Standing with you.

[@joshuajonns8772]

The medicine might not ever tell anyone to leave it alone, I did not grow up with parents and grandparents in a ceremony way, it was church, but I was born unto this land, here in central and South Texas, am I not indigenous to this land too... Just saying much love. I have the utmost respect and appreciation for these conversations. This is what we need. I trust, I love ❤️

[@suite42014]

Thank you so much. I find hope that I so desperately need. I have always felt the spirit of my ancestors. This is exactly my feeling. You are speaking my heart and I'm thankful you have the voice I've yet to find. You are my inspiration. I pray the world listens.

[@professorx1739]

I'm a black man and I feel like I can relate to the fine men. Love this video. I want to learn the native Indians way.

[@pedroortega4607]

I like the fact that both men expressed the delinquent behaviors of people in general. The sacrament needs order in harvesting and consumption from Native American Church and Teokali Tlanezi Mexika.

[@itdoesntmatter7436]

Appreciate the informative info. Thanks again guys for the moving words and perspective on our indigenous ways and medicine.

[@philanabetoney8529]

Things are changing, corrections are being made. KEEP speaking 🔊 out. Your not only speaking for yourself but for me, my children, the future of our indigenous people. Yes their will always be abusers of peyote, it punishes in it's own way to those who abuse it. More of our indigenous people need to come together to continue to make that way for this spritual practice(peyote ceremony)

[@Mdme.X]

Aho! Well said. We speak for past generations and future ❤

[@garnellshaw2096]

Ya we need the tyboz to understand more on how peaceful and love and care our peyote has for all us natives to be well health n spirit and the conection to mighty god !!!’AHO!!!

[@nivanelson3129]

Thank you for sharing a more blessing to have our freedom of our NAC and a member

[@jurassiclizzard]

I do believe that wild peyote should be given special protected status that would come with privileges being given to indigenous people. I believe leaders of their communities should be integral to creating these rules. I also believe that no plant should be illegal to possess or grow and that sustainably farmed peyote should be allowed and made available for any people who desire it.

[@yaddahaysmarmalite4059]

cultivation is really the only way if peyote was suddenly made legal for everyone. otherwise, the plant would be wiped out in habitat. so much of the peyote used by the NAC is purchased from the peyoteros. what kind of relationship with the plant is that? how is it so terrible if a person were to grow their own plant from a seed?

[@AwakenSatori]

Thank you so much for bringing this profoundly important perspective. I for one would love to share in a cup of coffee ❤

[@simonhanson2740]

Thank you so much for sharing these indigenous perspectives and ways of living. Your passion is inspirational. I yearn for the continued growth in understanding and harmony between all people more than anything. Nobody has the right to impose upon the freedoms of others and the idea of criminalizing nature is an absurdity beyond belief. We are all sovereign of our own bodies and all are sovereign of our own minds and ways of being - the laws put into place by the colonizers are amongst the greatest crimes against humanity. May we continue to move forward, listening to one another - we have so much to learn from indigenous people - i am so so grateful...

[@derekduncan9267]

Before you can heal, you need the blessing. You get the blessing by asking for it.

[@dexterj7059]

Thank you 👏 nizhoni well said

[@pwnytale8799]

My heart breaking and awakening with this. I wish me an my grown children were more connected. I left with them when they were young for school an work. Can we come home an feel welcome? They were so little in NAC It's been so long I wonder can we come back. Sometimes ppl r some way. I kno alot ppl feel this way who been away an want to come back.

[@yaddahaysmarmalite4059]

As a person who is descended from an eastern woodland tribe that disbanded due to pressure from the colonists in the early 1700s, Saponi, all I have to say is "I'm jealous." I'll never have federal recognition. I'll never be able to be a member of the NAC. I'll never have access to the medicine. I'm so angry about it all that I chose to not bring children into this world. I can't bear to subject them to all this. These guys have their culture and all that relatively intact. I don't and it can't ever be brought back. What is dead remains dead.

[@free-naturalist8912]

Much respect for my Navajo people. Believe what you believe. As long as it don't bring forth negative actions amongst civilization. 💯

[@Mdme.X]

Wado! We are all human and are called to love each other/ love all living things in the natural world. Also, as indigenous, we have a close, direct relationship with nature. We are to respect her and live with her. Nature is not a mistake, not to be exploited for greed (which is the ideology of Judeo-Christians). ❤✌

[@johnfree2833]

57,ojibway,ex boozer,now sober after one vape of dmt....no a.a for me ,8x treatment,,all fail...dmt worked.now seeks a solid path...thank you.eternally,thank you...

[@truthtoad]

Thank you for sharing this. I was searching for support the entheogen stewardship project. The IPCI was a great find and I will be getting in touch with them soon.

[@AwsomeLifeofBrian]

Peyote way is the ecstacy of walking in Beauty and is made available for those ready to ascend on their spiritual path. Lovers of Life in Unity with the source of all that is are prime candidates for the PW no matter which part of the Earth they entered this dimension from. Human Concepts do NOT apply in the Higher Realms unless it is Freedom. God Bless You All!

[@MegaChickenonastick]

Are you high?

[@sahaji108]

​@@MegaChickenonastick Why he would be. Most probably he has a different perspective on life and can perceive things you can't. Leave the man alone....

[@glynnphillips9703]

Love and all good blessings to the world ✨️🌎 🙏 ☝️✨️

[@SingleMalt77005]

It seems impossible to find a way to contact the Native American Church to explore membership. Can you provide contact info?

[@joshskeets9242]

It has more to do with cultivating a real and authentic relationship with a whole community rather than just signing up for a membership. If you’re willing to make the sacrifice to be a part of and contribute to the community that practices these ways, you will have the opportunity to partake in this ceremony.

[@SingleMalt77005]

@@joshskeets9242 OK but how does one even find the community to do that?

[@joshskeets9242]

@@SingleMalt77005 it’s everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The NAC ceremony is a small part of a much bigger spiritual journey we call life. For most people it takes decades and multiple generations to get properly introduced to the peyote in a proper setting. It gets more complex because other tribes use peyote in different contexts. It’s not something that’s been pre built with ownership. It’s more like a foundation to build a family and community on. So it can go as far as you being the one creating the community you want to see in the world.

[@SingleMalt77005]

@@joshskeets9242 Not helpful.

[@trevorharrell7559]

As someone who is in favor of decriminalize nature efforts, I totally respect that Peyote should be left alone for the reasons pointed out in this video. However, I would say that if I were to experience Peyote I would want to experience it in the traditional ceremonial way of indigenous tribes. I can go out and experience mescaline on my own sure, but the Peyote way has always interested me to a great degree. I hope some day Peyote will not be so endangered in nature and that folks like me can have a genuine encounter with the Peyote way.

[@andrewmiller6272]

The spirit hid inside the air love. That every time we breath we experience that love enter into us. Fulfilling one of the greatest needs, to breath. That angels are called the messangers. What is the message coming to earth 24-7? The answer is sunlight. And light contains all information. That everything is one of infinite manifestations light. That the senses we experience are different degrees of awareness. That the brains main function is to dream. That we dream 24-7. Awake and asleep. The difference is that in the waking dream There is a materialistic frame on it. That the physical space is called the tonal. And the space in-between the matter. The space in-between the physical is called the nagual. The nagual is the space given for dreams to occur. That we all are God's dreaming we are not God's. I encourage people to walk the path with heart. That the dream of the planet will one day return to harmony and synchronize into the frequency of love, for all of us to become and return into being radiant luminous beings. And to live with intensity. And to walk in freedom. To expand awareness. The entheogenic experience will return mans energy back to being radiant luminous beings.

[@maeee312]

Does anyone know of any legitimate Native American Churches that accept non-native people? I really admire the beliefs of the NAC and the music along with worshipping the creator through ceremonies. I feel as though the NAC is the only religion that can truly indulge the follower into the faith through both the physical and spiritual worlds. Its honestly so beautiful I want to cry, the community, the honor, the love and gratitude for life. What a lovely way of life🫶🏻

[@uberkloden]

If it’s meant to happen, it will find you.

[@paulmahon1869]

Been trying to get back down to earth for a long time 👽🛸 perhaps some time on the trail of the ancestors is just what the medicine man would prescribe someone point me the way to become a member of the native American church

[@owenphillips7391]

Where can I attend the N.A.C in Oklahoma

[@cawtheshots]

Leroy Little Bear, Kainai Nation - calls this knowledge of energy/life force Native Science.

[@AJBuddha]

So do Native Americans churches accept white people who are only 5-10% Native American? I also read their beliefs are similar to Christianity but they also use psychedelics to tap into a higher frequency. It’s definitely something that seems interesting to me I used to go to church, I pray to God everyday but I don’t like church because of all the extra stuff they did. Maybe a Native American church would be better for me since it would be better than not going to church at all.

[@joshskeets9242]

The NAC will “accept” any member of the community who are willing to contribute to said community. It has more to do with cultivating and strengthening authentic relationships within the community, rather than going in expecting certain things.

[@banakondakennedy-kishbell8969]

Is this a practice mixed in with Christianity....since it is called a Church.

[@banakondakennedy-kishbell8969]

I find that the Imperialism and War making of Christianity causes amalgamation with Indigenous ceremonial values, beliefs and practices deeply problematic.

[@yaddahaysmarmalite4059]

the NAC had to reform itself into the model set forth by the christian church in order to get federal permission to continue to use peyote. otherwise they were just a bunch of indians eating a psychoactive cactus as far as the christian white people runnning the government were concerned. Keeper Trout did a really good presentation on how that all happened. His presentation can be found here on u-tube.

[@stephenalishtasen1540]

With all due respect, there is no such thing as a non-indigenous person. All Homo Sapiens were originally tribal people who need to return to those tribal roots and way of life in harmony with nature, There are bad apples in all people. Respect is from the heart of a person. We human beings need to return to our roots and become true stewards of our Mother Earth. Ok everything happens for a reason…How did a colonial people so disconnected almost destroy indigenous peoples? What happened before the wars, etc.? What is the spiritual reason? Everything happens for a reason , a purpose as there are no accidents in creation so what is the Creator telling us?

[@davidyancey8743]

I am Indigenous. As you probably know that the United States Government removed children from their family and gave them to White people to raise. I can only say that my (White Mother) Merry Leigh (Blakeman) Yancey did the best she could under the circumstances that she was left with. My White Father only TOLERATED myself and my brother(Dana Ken Yancey). He was not home very often in my early childhood. The explanation that I was given was he worked all hours of the day and night. I wonder now what people let a stranger in their home at 2:00am in the morning to install the new phones in their home. That period of time was when A.T. & T. went from the Magneto Style of Box phone with Operators to connect people to the automatic system. I have tried to find my BIOLOGICAL PARENTS using all the resources available to me. The problem is the Gov't. uses (CYA) to justify what they did. I am asking Harvard Divinity School to help me find my BIOLOGICAL FAMILY.

[@drorose2225]

Sitting Bull Dro

[@kyelookingglass2170]

Comanche apache kiowa Real Native American Church ⛪ 🙏 🙌 🌙🌝🌞☀️

[@erickanuho4996]

So, what your saying is this man don’t practice the “Real” Native American church.

[@john454ful]

Sounds like someone is not feeling relevant anymore and thus assuaging their feelings of irrelevancy by injecting some native supremacy.😊

[@erickanuho4996]

Lipan apache are the real NAC founders kiowa and comanche piggy backing. Esiuqita apaches true founders.

[@fullblooded4521]

I love the Creator Jesus Christ who created heaven and earth.

[@derek6321]

2 Esdras Chapter 13: 39And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him; 40Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land. 41But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt, 42That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land. 43And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river. 44For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over. 45For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth. ARZARETH: By: Morris Jastrow, Jr., Kaufmann Kohler The name of the land beyond the great river, far away from the habitation of man, in which the Ten Tribes of Israel will dwell, observing the laws of Moses, until the time of the restoration, according to IV Esd. xiii. 45. Columbus identified America with this land. (See Kayserling's "Christopher Columbus," translated by Dr. C. Gross, p. 15.)

[@RabelFibal1]

Indigenous nations need to Stop taking FEDERAL monies in light of religious freedom. It's like you cannnot speak out against US Government with the IRS exemptions to not pay taxes. 501C3 status. Christian Churches, Islamic Centers, Judaic Centers, any tax exempt, SHOULD pay taxes to have Free healthcare and other choices like freedom of indigenous medicines.

[@sahaji108]

You go ahead and pay more taxes ....

[@scribebat]

Hm. Well, thanks Harvard for putting this together. If your two guests will omit thanking you at least i will. Ya, i've got some things to say here and the snow on this mountain gives me the right, i've got years on all of you. While i can sympathize with their plight and personally know the benefits of an intimacy with nature, i'm finding all the self-pity and whining coming from a couple of people who are supposed to be spiritual leaders revolting. Is that what you have to teach? Is that what your teachers taught you? Is that what Mescalito has taught you? Maybe a little gratitude for the gifts they have received from their oppressors. Steven didn't exactly appear to be communicating from a hogan, Sandor was broadcasting from inside his iron horse. Reservations? It could have been worse, at least they got reservations, the Blacks got slavery. i sat here getting pretty furious with both of 'em. Why? Because i do care. They talk as if they owned a patent on peyote or something. They do not. i heard 'cultural appropriation'. Hm. Pot, this is the kettle talkin', who's appropriating what? Given the desired operational parameters here, the solution is clear. The Church simply needs to buy up as much land in those three counties in Texas as they can get their hands on, that's all there is to it. From what i've heard, peyote is well protected there, even from the Church, and if they don't go messing with things, it will still be, they should be happy about that unless it is their on selves they're most concerned about. Ya, i know there's been some issues with local cops there not recognizing federally assured rights. i guess you guys aren't part of nature so you can't grow it yourself, wouldn't be 'natural' but, in my own communications with plants, they ab solutely love any help in propagation, in spreading themselves far and wide, any help they can get. And peyote is easy to grow. i know. Never eaten the stuff but had a cactus collection and grew it on a window sill in Chicago, bloomed easy, set seeds, grew from seed easy. i'd heard it was getting scarce in the wild, what with the hippies and the Native American Church, that concerned me. Gave away over 200 plants when i left Chicago. Easy to grow. You've got stuff of value to teach others? i've known some in the past who have tried to share indigenous wisdom with outsiders, caught a lot of flack from various tribal sources for their trying. Go spend some time on the Res, Sandor? i actually tried that once, wasn't exactly met with open arms, won't try again. Even people who would be friends not very welcome. Some serious reverse prejudices going on from what i've seen. Maybe you were joking. Yep, 'All one tribe, all same, all different. Broken arrow.' i first heard that from a spirit guide of sorts who showed up when i was preparing for a vision quest at one time. Well, i'm not at all clear what you guys got to share but happy to share what little i've stumbled upon. i can guarantee both of you, Steve and Sandor, one thing: Change. Don't recommend taking it personal, happens to *everyone*, every peoples, every thing. Everybody and everything learns to either bend a bit with the changes or get to break. And the Universe doesn't care how you respond. That's one thing i've learned. Another is that everything has a beginning, a middle and an end. Like it or not, everything eventually ends. The bad guys will all go away sooner or later. But so will the good. Equal opportunity built into the universe. In spiritual matters, i can't subscribe to any one religion anymore (they're useful as 'bootcamp for the soul' but shouldn't become a crutch, at least as i see it) and don't have much to say. Only that it has been my experience that forgiveness turns the key, gratitude opens the door. It may be possible to have too much bliss (when you're blissed out every day, it gets to seeming not blissful). Oh, that spirit guide who showed up when i was preparing for a vision quest, he was quite a card, also told me to remember to pack the sacred Playboy and the sacred chainsaw. i mentioned this to my mentor at the time, she got a bit ticked off about it, didn't get what he was actually telling me, "don't forget to pack your sense of humor". Love ya brothers, get well soon.

[@billybobvtshorts5389]

To bad, you can not relate to the situation. Sorry but not sorry bro, you have no culture and didn't see what occurred. So, in a sense, your gay.

[@uberkloden]

Instead of talking your crap….why don’t you talk to the people?

[@philanabetoney8529]

MAYBE You don't understand because what has happened in our natural way of life to our indigenous people was disrupted by colonist, I am guessing 🤔 your not coming from our roots, rather it be Diné or our indigenous neighbors/relative. Your mind is so small if you can't understand what's being talked about. Our people still are not free. We are still fighting for our rights to basically live free. Yes other clans went through rough/forced transformation, they are still fighting for their rights as will. We have birth certificates so the government can keep record of us. We have census numbers so the government can keep tract of us.. we still don't own our land even though we were here before colonist sterried their boats in the wrong direction. We are not Indians, but yet that's what we are still called today. Yes sure we can leave the reservation to buy back a peace of land that we romed on so freely before colonist came, but that's giving into the government way again. Money is not something we created. *IT seems that they are simply trying to explain a part of our spiritual practice our relationship with this peyote is important to those who utilize it in a spritual manner. That peyote is scared to those who have respect for this plant/cactus. That they want to protect it, they want it to be available to us for generations to come. The climates is effecting its growth. Just for instance the snow that fell in Texas in 2020 or 2021 sure that effected the growth of matured plants(peyote). Have you ever seen what happens to plants when they get cold/frozen? Let that be a since project for you. Maybe you only learn through since. If you don't practice the ways of indigenous people then your not going to understand 💯 🤷 👌 🙂. I sure don't have the time to try to open your mind.....Don't think I would want to. 😉 you all should be thanking us if it weren't for indigenous people colonist wouldn't have survived their first winter "Thanks giving day"..... I'm just saying it's all over history books.

[@suite42014]

You sound bitter and hope you allow yourself to carry it. You missed the whole message. Peace comes from listening not voicing your own trauma. Btw we we're slaves as well yet we have no National Holiday. We have no honored history. Yet we don't revolt and we don't scream or disrespect. A peaceful people born that way. You can truly learn if you hear the message. The medicine from Mother wants to heal. Needs us to heal because if we don't she will not support us. It is a beautiful world if we just respect it.

[@scribebat]

@@suite42014 No, Darla, not bitter, but getting annoyed at deluded people trying to take pot shots at me here. You would appear to have missed *my* whole message. As you say, peace comes from listening not voicing your own trauma. A peaceful people born that way? Hm. You appear not to know your own history. There were wars between tribes long before the Europeans arrived. You would also still be thinking in terms of 'us vs them' - i repeat: We are all one tribe, all the same, all different. You can't have peace by waging war as you are doing. There is a huge difference between the tribes from the Americas and how the Europeans address harvesting. Here in the Americas, the people for the most part simply took from Mom, giving nothing back in most cases but simply managing how much they took at best. In Europe, they invested in planting seed, caring for animals they relied on to live, giving a bit before taking. Such partnerships with Mom in the Americas before the Europeans was the exception much more than the norm. Heal? A good place to start might be to be sure you are seeing things clearly yourself.

[@ronniebaker7782]

Blah blah blah cry me a new trail

[@MrStaybrown]

Yup. Live with nature? The rez is severely overgrazed. Who's greedy?

[@free-naturalist8912]

I'm going to assume you say this in every situation. So i find it rather logical to conclude that evolution decreases because of you. But that's okay we have faith 👍 👌

[@trevorharrell7559]

Please leave and never open your blabbering mouth again! It’s ridiculous how ignorant and insensitive people like you can be.

[@brucejohnson863]

No disrespect dont forget that white people had traditional lands and traditional teachings before Christians killed everyone ,Celtics, norse ,Sami (still living nomadicly,tuva in the steppes and the many cultures that died off or become a new culture all together....your a soul just like everyone eles your not different just cut off from the knowledge .dualism did all this damage .

[@joshskeets9242]

No one is saying they’re different. The examples you gave is not okay to happen either. It would be like if a house caught on fire in your neighborhood and you start talking to the owner like, “I saw in the newspaper that houses catch on fire everyday don’t even pretend like you’re the first”. It’s so weird to me! Which is why we have to say those things are bad and deserve no place in the world. Otherwise we’d just forget and submit to that idea, and eventually people will start to think it’s acceptable behavior to enforce upon others. We need to discuss this stuff openly in order to prepare and strengthen our entire community structure. Even if the person talking has a bad take or isn’t good at communicating ideas, we shouldn’t give up on the conversation internally.

[@sarahschuck2474]

You’re doing pretty well for a victim