Peyote Preservation Project

Preservation of Sacred Plants

Plant teachers such as peyote, ayahuasca, and tobacco have been a medium for humanity to connect with the ancestral spirits for thousands of years. Today, we are witnessing the widespread use of these plants beyond Native communities, helping many to heal, reconnect, and expand their consciousness. As more people seek guidance from these plants and people who carry these traditions, we continue to raise the message to ensure the lands on which these plants and cultures thrive are protected.

In Southern Texas and Mexico, much of the land where the peyote grows has become industrialized, privatized, and otherwise degraded for commercial purposes. In the Amazon and other parts of South America, deforestation and colonization are still ongoing threats to the ecosystem. As a result, these plants as well as the communities that have helped to preserve them have become endangered.

Our Role

For the past 15 years, Xinachtli has been working in the preservation of the peyote catctus in South Texas. Through active efforts of protecting and preserving these plants, by replanting and regenerating the natural ecosystems, we can do our part to foster sacred plants and traditions while contributing to a larger cause of rebalancing humanity's relationship with Mother Nature.

Our activism involves:

• Monitoring development in areas where Peyote grows.

• Rescuing endangered native plants that would otherwise be destroyed.

• Replanting in areas where they will be protected.

In order to complete these objectives we need observers in the field, workers to replant, garden caretakers and to acquire land for replanting. We have specific monthly expenses such as gasoline and garden materials.

The people working with us are native to the land, in need of saving their indigenous culture and the sacred territory and plants that are fundamental for our community’s survival. The process of rescuing our own ancestrality awakens the ancient memory of all helpers, volunteers, workers, as we put our hands in the earth and replant a cactus that to us, represents our connection to the divine.

Our Goal

Our goal is to preserve native territory and medicine. Moving forward with grounded determination, by 2024 we intend to:

• Aquire 10 acres of land in South Texas for preservation of peyote in its natural habitat.

• Rescue 40.000 buttons from construction/cattle sites and replant them in safe Teocali Quetzalcoatl land.

• Create new alliances with conscious communities in the area that are willing to support our mission.

• Cover all expenses with heartfelt donations that contribute to the reciprocity between Mother Earth and all of humanity, as well as reciprocity with indigenous wisdom keepers who suffer from ongoing colonization practices.

In order to reach our goal, we need a total of $400.000.

• Land purchase: $330.000

• Peyote rescue mission: $40.000

• Garden’s maintenance, salaries for all workers: $30.000

Our community is becoming increasingly concerned with all of the changes that the earth has been suffering throughout the years, especially the deforestation that is causing climate change and droughts. We have witnessed several rivers in the area lose all of their water. In indigenous cosmology and way of life we understand that all living things and all elements are connected, for which we intend to extend our project by 2025 and acquire land for preservation of rivers and forests.

Our accomplishments

During the past 2 years, we have focused in replanting in an acre of land that is stewarded by our official Native American Church, Teokalli Quetzalcoatl.

With our founder’s guidance and the aid of the Teokalli Quetzalcoatl community, we have managed to preserve over 20.000 buttons. This precious medicine would have been destroyed and replaced with cattle and farming if our attentive rescue team hadn’t been safeguarding it.

These gardens are a very sacred space for our community where we gather to pray, we connect with the deep indigenous scientific knowledge, arts and spirituality that our ancestors have passed on to us.

Donations

By donating to this cause, you are helping to preserve indigenous plants and traditions of the Nahuatl, Comanche, Apache, Coatlhuilteco, and many other native peoples of the area. You will help to take the first steps that are increasingly needed to restore peace and balance between humanity and the ecosystems of the earth, as well as between the different nations.

Thank you for your contribution, and please be welcome to join us at our Teokalli Quetzalcoatl meetings, where we pray and manifest a life of love with the guidance of our grandfather fire and the sacred blue deer spirit, Hikurito Peyotzin Kauyumari.

Tlazocamati.