Contemporary Native American Music

Peyote




The use of peyote emerged partly as a response to the increasing popularity of Christianity. The use of a hallucinogenic substance was common for a number of Indian cultures, in order to achieve a spiritual state of consciousness. Today, peyote, to a degree, represents the Native American resistance to assimilation with Western culture and law. It is symbolic of the tribes' protectiveness of their practices and since the use of peyote conflicts with the rules of many Western religions, it forces Native Americans to choose.