The Peyote Road

In 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a controversial decision in a case concerning the 1984 firing of Al Smith, a member of the Klamath Tribe in Oregon state, who was let go because of his sacramental use of peyote during religious ceremonies in the Native American Church. The 1990 ruling essentially said that sacramental use of peyote was not protected under the First Amendment. Gary Rhine's The Peyote Road is a thought-provoking look at the history of the battle over peyote which dates way back to the 1890s when the first anti-peyote groups tried to prohibit its use, and climaxed in 1965 with peyote being added to the list of federally controlled substances (though it was exempted for religious use). Narrated by actor Peter Coyote, and featuring interviews with Walter Echo-Hawk (on the legal aspects of the controversy), and noted author Dr. Huston Smith (on the religious questions), The Peyote Road incorporates personal testimonial, filmed tribal ceremonies, and archival footage and stills to outline the events along "the peyote road" leading up to the infamous 1990 Supreme Court decision. Sure to provoke discussion, The Peyote Road reminds us once again that "eternal vigilance is the price of freedom." Unfortunately, most of America wasn't watching when First Amendment rights were being denied in the Al Smith case. But, as the film points out, tomorrow the powers that be may decide that sacramental wine is just booze, circumcision is child abuse, and kosher food preparation is cruelty to animals. The second in the Native American Relations series (the first, Wiping the Tears of Seven Generations was reviewed in our May 1992 issue), The Peyote Road is highly recommended for public, high school, and university libraries. (R. Pitman)