La geopolítica del peyote y los derechos de los pueblos originarios

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the detrimental effects of colonialism on the geopolitics of peyote in Mexico and the Southwestern United States. The border between the two countries is a sensitive point in the geopolitics of drugs, but peyote has cultural particularities that need to be considered. First, it is imperative to recognize that these prohibitionist policies are a direct result of colonialism. By applying these prohibitionist policies, the rights of Native American Peoples, the right to health, and the right to cognitive freedom have been undermined. Secondly, this research methodology is based on critical historiography, philosophical hermeneutics, and decolonial theory. Thirdly, this article will examine specific cases of resistance, such as the Native American Church (USA) and the Wirikuta Defense Front (Mexico), applying the concept of “struggle of cultural paradigms.” Analyzing the geopolitics of peyote, will help to better understand the struggles for the territory of the Native American Peoples, since for international law, one of the cultural features that distinguish the Native American Peoples from other groups or minorities is their spiritual relationship with the land. Finally, this article will delve into some of the paradoxes related to colonization, such as the criminalization of peyote use, the “clash of cultural paradigms,” and damage to the ecosystem. Understanding the profound impact of colonialism on peyote geopolitics and the rights of indigenous peoples is crucial to taking action to rectify these injustices and colonial legacies and improve the design of public policies.

Keywords

colonialism

geopolitics

indigenous rights

peyote

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