Altered States In Texas’s Peyote Gardens
Nov 12, 2025
Adriana Rodriguez, a dedicated reporter, immerses herself in the peyote harvesting rituals of South Texas. She discusses her journey to document Indigenous practices alongside spiritual leader Sandor Ironrope and elder-relative Julius Not Afraid. They explore the cultural significance of peyote, the conservation efforts to protect this sacred plant, and how ceremonies reconnect youth with their language and identity. Adriana shares her personal experiences of harvest and her emotional journey home to her Lakota roots.
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First Visit To The Peyote Gardens
- Adriana describes arriving at a desert site where teepees are raised for a peyote ceremony attended by many tribal nations.
- The gathering happens in the peyote gardens, the only place indigenous people can harvest peyote buttons themselves.
Conservation Tied To Cultural Survival
- Sandor frames peyote protection as part of protecting people, culture, and spiritual practice.
- IPCI runs a nursery, replants peyote, and works with ranchers to conserve the cactus habitat.
Passing Knowledge To A 13-Year-Old
- Sharice and her 13-year-old daughter Abby traveled from Pine Ridge to learn harvesting and ceremony practices.
- Abby describes harvesting and ceremony as beautiful and a rare chance many indigenous people lack due to scarcity.
