PEYOTE PRESERVATION

Peyote has been at the heart of Adam Yellow Bird DeArmon's plant preservation work for more than two decades.

The slow-growing cactus holds profound ceremonial and cultural significance for Native peoples and faces increasing pressures upon its natural habitat and wild populations.

Adam's work has focused on cultivation and propagation as a means of supporting long-term preservation and reducing pressure on plants growing in the wild.

For NAC of ICSAW, preservation means looking beyond the needs of the present generation. It asks how sacred plants can be cared for responsibly today so that they—and the traditions surrounding them—remain alive for generations yet to come.

Protecting peyote means protecting more than the plant itself. It means preserving its natural habitat, respecting the delicate balance of the ecosystems in which it grows, and honoring the Indigenous communities whose spiritual and ceremonial traditions have sustained a sacred relationship with this medicine for generations. NAC of ICSAW recognizes that responsible stewardship carries a commitment to both the Earth and the cultural heritage entrusted to future generations. 

PRESERVATION THROUGH CULTIVATION

Responsible cultivation can play an important role in protecting vulnerable sacred plants and supporting their continuation.

NAC of ICSAW seeks to develop sustainable cultivation and preservation practices that honor the natural growth cycles of these plants while encouraging propagation, education, ecological responsibility, and long-term stewardship.

The vision extends beyond the cultivation of individual plants. It is about creating places where sacred medicines can be protected and cared for and where appropriate knowledge concerning their stewardship can continue to be passed from generation to generation.