Peyotism in North American Indian cultures is the inter-tribal practices and beliefs with the sacrificial use of peyote. This began in 1560 among the Chichimeca tribe of Mexico.
Originally it is believed that the use of peyote was used for the purpose of detecting thefts, divining other happenings and foretelling future events. Later the Huichol and Tarahumari tribes
began using peyote in purification and coming of age rituals. As peyotism spread further north the rituals became specific to each tribe. However the basic form stayed very similar. Peyotism is
still a ritual used in North American Indian tribes today.