The Battle to Save Peyote: Can Indigenous Communities Protect Their Sacred Plant?

In the arid expanses of southern Texas, amidst thorny mesquite and acacia, a rare bluish-green cactus quietly anchors the spiritual lives of Native American communities. Known as peyote, this sacred plant, vital to prayer and healing ceremonies, faces an existential threat. Development projects, illegal poaching, and the rising tide of the psychedelic renaissance are encroaching on its delicate habitat, igniting a fierce conservation battle led by Indigenous groups.

For centuries, peyote has been central to Native American spirituality. Reverently called the medicine, it is seen as a divine gift, capable of healing physical and emotional trauma. But as its natural habitat diminishes, the Native American Church (NAC) and its allies are mobilizing to protect what they call the peyote gardens.

Peyote grows only in limited regions of southern Texas and northern Mexico, flourishing in challenging conditions but maturing slowly over decades. This slow growth, combined with increasing demand, has placed the plant in jeopardy. The spread of agriculture, housing developments, wind farms, and border infrastructure has steadily chipped away at peyote’s natural habitat.

Illegal poaching compounds the problem, with some harvesters depleting wild populations faster than they can recover. Native American Church members report difficulty accessing peyote, a resource they have relied upon for generations. The land and the plant are intertwined with our spirituality, said Steven Benally, a Navajo elder. When we lose the gardens, we lose more than a plant — we lose a sacred connection.

The burgeoning interest in psychedelics as mental health treatments has brought new attention to peyote. Advocates for decriminalization and medical research seek access to the plant, citing its potential to alleviate depression, anxiety, and addiction.

But for Indigenous communities, this trend poses a dire threat. Many fear that opening peyote to broader markets will lead to commodification, reducing it to a recreational drug and further straining limited supplies.

Peyote isn’t just a plant or a drug — it’s a spiritual guide, said Adrian Primeaux, a Yankton Sioux and Apache member of the Native American Church. When it’s taken out of context, its sacredness is lost.

In response, Indigenous leaders have taken the initiative to protect peyote’s natural habitat. In 2017, the National Council of Native American Churches purchased a 605-acre ranch in Hebbronville, Texas, to establish the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative (IPCI). The site serves as both a conservation area and a spiritual refuge, where Native Americans can harvest peyote prayerfully.

IPCI prioritizes natural propagation, ensuring the plant thrives in its native ecosystem. This isn’t just about growing peyote, said Miriam Volat, IPCI’s executive director. It’s about restoring balance and respect for the land.

To fund these efforts, IPCI relies on philanthropic support, though some within the Native American Church remain cautious about outside involvement. Skepticism runs deep, with fears of exploitation by investors and non-Native organizations.

Amid these challenges, the Native American Church is calling on the U.S. government to uphold its responsibilities. Leaders like Darrell Red Cloud, vice president of the NAC of North America, are advocating for a $5 million federal grant to support landowners who preserve peyote habitats.

Meanwhile, IPCI continues its grassroots work, hosting ceremonies and educational events to pass on peyote traditions to future generations. This is more than conservation, said Sandor Iron Rope, president of the Native American Church of South Dakota. It’s about reconnecting our people to the wisdom of our ancestors.

For Native American communities, the fight to save peyote is deeply personal. It represents more than a battle against habitat destruction or external demand — it’s a struggle to protect their identity, spirituality, and way of life.

As Benally reflected during a visit to IPCI’s ranch, This land and these plants are alive. They hear, they understand, and they have a purpose — just like us.

The next 50 years will determine whether the peyote gardens endure as a sanctuary of healing and connection or become another casualty of modern development.

Should sacred plants like peyote be protected exclusively for Indigenous use, or opened up for medical research? Vote and share your thoughts!