“Plants Don’t Have a Culture to Appropriate”: Accounting for Accusations of Cultural Appropriation of Peyote Ceremonies
Heith Copes, Haley Copeland, Lynne M. Vieraitis, Michael Cherbonneau, Peter S. Hendricks
Sociology Compass February 26, 2025 DOI: 10.1111/soc4.70048 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Ethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | People who attended peyote ceremonies in a Southern U.S. state |
| Topics | Mescaline |
| Keywords | Cultural appropriation Anthropology Epistemology |
| Key findings | Participants delegitimized accusations of cultural appropriation either by denying that cultural appropriation exists or by claiming that their own respectful behavior meant they were not appropriators. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT The concept of cultural appropriation has drawn increasing attention from academic disciplines and nonacademic circles. Yet, there is no consensus on what constitutes cultural appropriation nor whether it is harmful. The contested nature of the concept suggests that it is important to understand how people respond to such accusations. Indeed, understanding how people resist accusations of cultural appropriation (i.e., how they account for their actions) can provide insights into defining cultural appropriation and understanding its impact. Accordingly, we rely on data from an ethnography of people who attended peyote ceremonies (a sacred Native American practice) in a Southern U.S. state to understand how they account for accusations of cultural appropriation when they are presented. Findings suggest that participants delegitimized accusations in one of two ways: saying that cultural appropriation does not exist (e.g., peyote is for everyone) or that appropriation exists but they are not appropriators (e.g., they were respectful of the ceremonies). Regardless of which approach they used, participants drew on broader narratives that allowed them to maintain a positive identity while minimizing the potential stigma of being appropriators.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on mescaline, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peyote as Earth Medicine: Examining How Symbolic Meanings Shape Experiences With Psychedelics People who use peyote in religious ceremonies | 2023 | Photo-ethnography | |
| The Use of Peyote as Treatment for Alcoholism within the NAC Community: Reflections on a Study | 2011 | Interview | |
| Psychedelic trip sitting, dosages and intensities: Supplementing clinical studies with anecdotal reports Posts from online psychedelic forums (The Shroomery and DMT Nexus) on trip sitting | 2024 | Qualitative study with Delphi-style expert panel review | n = 660 |
| Hitting the Reset Button: Ceremonial Use of Peyote and Experiences of Personal Change People who attended peyote ceremonies in rural Northcentral Alabama | 2024 | Photo-ethnography | |
| The San Pedro Cactus (Equinopsis pachanoi): Ancestral and Modern Therapeutic Uses in Peru Curanderos in the Túcume district of northern Peru | 2025 | Qualitative study |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population. Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2015
- The psychedelic renaissance and the limitations of a White-dominant medical framework: A call for indigenous and ethnic minority inclusion Journal of Psychedelic Studies July 1, 2019
- Mescaline: The forgotten psychedelic Neuropharmacology October 14, 2022
- Indigenous Philosophies and the "Psychedelic Renaissance" Anthropology of Consciousness July 30, 2022
- The Peyote road: religious freedom and the Native American Church Choice Reviews Online March 1, 2011
and 3 more in the library