Exploitation of Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples have been and continue to be exploited in various contexts.

In the pursuit of psychedelic medicines, it is not different. Many of the sacred plant medicines have been “discovered” and used by Westerners in ways that take advantage of communities.

Video: Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative Documentary

21:21

In this short documentary, we will learn about a sacred plant medicine which has been used by Indigenous groups in Northern Mexico and Southern Texas since time immemorial. Peyote has since been overharvested by non-Indigenous communities and sold commercially which has drastically reduced the amount of peyote these Indigenous groups can use for ceremony. Watch this video to learn about the impact this exploitation has had on these communities.

Other Examples of Indigenous Exploitation

Peyote is not the only sacred plant medicine which has been exploited by non-Indigenous Peoples resulting in an overall negative impact on the community.

Psilocybin-Producing Mushrooms

Mushrooms that contain psilocybin entered into western psychedelic research (and consequently non-clinical use) thanks to an Indigenous Medicine Woman in Mexico named María Sabina.

Video: María Sabina, the Shaman who Introduced Americans to Mushrooms

9:30

María Sabina introduced Westerners to psilocybin-containing mushrooms, and this video walks through the story of this event and the horrific impact it had on the life of María Sabina and her community. What happened to María Sabina is a clear example of why Western science needs to be more mindful and respectful of Indigenous plant medicines and Indigenous cultural practices.

Ayahuasca

Similarly, the commercialization and growing popularity of ayahuasca retreats in the Amazon and other locations has made it more challenging for locals to access this medicine. This has also had significant environmental impacts on these communities (Braczkowski et al., 2019). Since Indigenous traditional ceremonial practices using ayahuasca have been adapted for Westerners and made more commercial, there is some concern that non-Indigenous Peoples may misinterpret or misappropriate the rituals which may lead to unsafe or ineffective experiences (Hay, 2020).

References

Braczkowski, A., Ruzo, A., Sanchez, F., Castagnino, R., Brown, C., Guynup, S., ... O'Bryan, C. (2019). The ayahuasca tourism boom: An undervalued demand driver for jaguar body parts? Conservation Science and Practice, 1(12), e126.

Hay, M. (2020). The colonization of the ayahuasca experience. JSTOR Daily.