Definition of peyote

The word "peyote" originates from the Mexican-Spanish language and has its roots in the Huichol culture, one of the indigenous tribes living in Western Mexico. In the Huichol language, the term for the peyote cactus is "hikuli," which translates to "the nipple." This is likely due to the small, round buttons that grow on top of the plant, which resemble human nipples. When the Spanish colonized the region, they encountered the local peoples' use of peyote in religious ceremonies and initially mistook the plant for a type of pepper. The Spanish transliteration of the Huichol term became "peyote," reflecting the sound and meaning of the original language. Despite the misconception by the Spanish, peyote remained culturally significant to the indigenous peoples of Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Many indigenous tribes, including the Huichol, Tarahumara, and Apache, still use peyote in religious and healing ceremonies today. The involvement of these cultures has led to the legal protections of peyote for the Native American Church, which is governed by the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA).