The Perici or Pericu Indians of Baja California Sur were an indigenous people that inhabited western Mexico and the southwestern United States. Remains found in the area support historians' theories that the Pericu Indians were intellectual in nature, in sharp contrast with the hunter-gatherer cultures emerging elsewhere on the continent. The Pericu made pottery, recorded events in art and text, as well as cultivated the arid envirnment of the desert. Archaeological finds even point to an irrigation system of sorts that spread as far as 1700 miles in one location.

Mysticism also seems to have been an intrical part of Perician culture. Many gods were worshiped and nature was highly respected. These characteristics are two of just a very few shared with other Native American peoples.

Cave paintings and pottery remains indicate that a "pale man" with "hair of fire" introduced peyote and psylocibe mushrooms to the elders and wise men of the tribe. Many historians believe that the story is nothing more than a narrative constructed to explain the ritual of "vision quests" that abounded in many tribes of the North American desert. Others, however, including Mormons, believe the story to be an accurate record of an actual event. Many Mormons believe that the event may be the incarnation of Jesus to the native peoples, or Levites, as explained in the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was among the believers.