Words from our Conservation Manager - Arnold Slowman

An update from our Conservation Manager

Yaateeh from the 605 ranch in South Texas, my name is Arnold Slowman a Dine, clans are Hashtlishnii nishli Tlizilani bashihchiin Todichiinii da shicheii adoo Hask’aah adzohi da shinaliand originally from Sweetwater, AZ.

"The initiative and long term goals for the project is to have the Peyote available for many more years, also to have it available for at least seven generations or even longer. We would like to have our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to have the same good opportunity we experienced with our Azee." - Arnold Slowman

I was hired in June of 2019 as Conservation Manager for the 605 site which is managed by the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative, a non-profit organization. You are welcome to read the information on this website to learn how all this initiative began.

Basically I have been hired to oversee the 605 site and to coordinate and manage planned projects for the site and work with ranchers and the community. One exciting program is to have visitors actually kneel down and make offerings to the natural growing peyote.

When I came here, the 605 had minimal development. It had a couple of compost toilets, shower, storage unit, shade structure, RV trailer, 10 campsites and Tipi site. All these items are still here and they have been upgraded to accommodate more visitors.

Some major developments are going on today, we hired contractors to build an adobe brick home and all the walls are up and contractors are building a concrete form on top of walls to support the roof which will be made from fired bricks shaped as a dome.

All the 5000 bricks to build this home were hand made with natural clay in the area mixed with mud with straw, the builders are from Native American and Mexican background. This project is planned to be complete this fall. The home will be very energy efficient and minimal maintenance is required. Another project getting started is to build a men and women's bathhouse (compost toilets, showers and laundry area) for visitors.

Some future plans for development is a welcome center for training and history of the Peyote road. Training will be to educate members about the status of the peyote plants in South Texas and conservation techniques to preserve our NAC medicine. Training will consist of how to harvest, cultivate, replant and how to manage the peyote plant with landowners. Presentation of the history of the peyote from all user’s standpoint.

The initiative and long term goals for the project is to have the Peyote available for many more years, also to have it available for at least seven generations or even longer. We would like to have our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to have the same good opportunity we experienced with our Azee.

- Arnold Slowman

IPCI Conservation Manager