Leiden University Student Repository

Terhoeve, Dorinda (2013)

Peyotism among the Navajo: a Juridical Battle and its Misconceptions

Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)

The Lophophora williamsii or better known as the Peyote Cactus has been a point of controversy in American courts for decades. Members of the NAC (Native American Church) have been fighting in court for the right to use this cactus classified as a Schedule 1 substance in their Peyote ceremonies. The court cases had differing outcomes as result. Within this juridical debate there is a hegemonic biomedical bias in which Peyote is considered to be a health threatening drug. This is remarkable, because Peyote doesn’t seem to stimulate addiction. In contrary, it is used to ‘heal’ addictions. Within this debate there is a lack of an emic view. This emic view in itself is problematic as researching within the NAC is difficult. Additionally, the Peyote ceremony is seen in the court as a part of the traditional religion of the NAC. But when looking at Native American religion, the NAC is a relative newcomer originating in 1917. What is the role of anthropology in this debate and what can it...Show moreThe Lophophora williamsii or better known as the Peyote Cactus has been a point of controversy in American courts for decades. Members of the NAC (Native American Church) have been fighting in court for the right to use this cactus classified as a Schedule 1 substance in their Peyote ceremonies. The court cases had differing outcomes as result. Within this juridical debate there is a hegemonic biomedical bias in which Peyote is considered to be a health threatening drug. This is remarkable, because Peyote doesn’t seem to stimulate addiction. In contrary, it is used to ‘heal’ addictions. Within this debate there is a lack of an emic view. This emic view in itself is problematic as researching within the NAC is difficult. Additionally, the Peyote ceremony is seen in the court as a part of the traditional religion of the NAC. But when looking at Native American religion, the NAC is a relative newcomer originating in 1917. What is the role of anthropology in this debate and what can it do to deconstruct the misconceptions of Peyotism? In answering this question and in exploring the juridical debate and its misconceptions a literature research about Navajo Native Americans and Peyotism is used.Show less

Native American

Peyotism

Native American Church

Author

Terhoeve, Dorinda

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Supervisors

Zuyderhoudt, Lea

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en