Psychoactive agents and Native American spirituality: Past and present

Abstract

Five hundred years of physical and cultural genocide, including prohibitions against traditional aboriginal (pre‐Columbian) customs and rituals, many involving the selective use of psychoactive agents, contributed greatly to the current social, health and economic problems among Native Americans both in Indian Country and in urban Indian ghettos. Accordingly, substance abuse – notably alcoholism – has long been part of the negative Native American image. Most movie‐goers are familiar with the drunken Indian stereotype a common staple of ‘Cowboy and Indian’ scripts. These images render Native Americans as lesser humans – notably adults with childlike minds and behaviours – thereby justifying strict federal paternalism, which is ironically often the major source of Indian exploitation and a continuation of this self‐fulfilling prophecy. It is these outside influences coupled with serious cultural disruption that contributed to Indian marginality and, consequently, substance abuse problems in Indian Country and beyond. Few could argue that social and personal disorganisation among most native groups in the Americas is the result of displacement, forced removal and harsh attempts at resocialisation (cultural genocide) – policies intended to eliminate the Indian problem confronting the white forces that took over these lands. Progress at reversing these policies has slowly emerged, notably in the United States and Canada. The reintroduction of traditional rituals, including the use of psychoactive agents like peyote, are having a positive impact on reversing many of these negative influences in Indian Country.

Keywords:

• Euro‐American influences
• Native Americans/First Nations
• harmony ethos
• cultural genocide
• Indian marginality
• Indian Country