Peyote and the Native American Church
Peyotism was introduced to the Kiowa by about 1870, and quickly became an important element in Kiowa society. There was resistance to peyote by Kiowa traditionalists, but with the decline of the bison and the Sun Dance, the religion grew in popularity and was often seen a great way to access dwdw, or power found in traditional Kiowa religion. The peyote ritual was held in a tipi at night and was hosted by a leader called a “roadman”, who would guide the participants through songs and prayers until dawn.
As large public expressions of Kiowa religion and culture were discouraged and outlawed, peyotism became a way to participate in Kiowa culture in a more private way as the ceremonies were small and held indoors. Indian agents tried very hard to make peyotism illegal because they thought any expression of non-Christian religion would reverse progress made into assimilating the Kiowa, and the secretive nature of the ceremonies (held at night) and the drug use alarmed them.
In 1918, fearing that their religion would be banned, the Kiowa, along with the Cheyenne, decided to form a denomination called the Native American Church, which they registered as a religious organization and invited anyone who wanted to participate to join it so that the peyote religion would be able to enjoy the protection of free speech and freedom of religion that were afforded other organized religions and Christian denominations. The Native American Church still exists, and has about 250, 000 members throughout the United States and Canada, and most of its participants are indigenous people. Their services are led by a roadman, and combine Christianity and traditional religions. Membership in the Native American Church is still very high among the Kiowa, and many attend both NAC services and mainline Christian services at the Methodist or Baptist churches. The denomination faces a lot of legal resistance, but currently the roadmen are legally permitted to hold services and transport peyote with them to those services. Currently, only people who are card carrying members of a native tribe are permitted to have or grow peyote in the United States.