Sacred Roots: Honoring the End of a Powerful Chapter in Tobacco Prevention

As the Sacred Roots Tobacco Prevention Program comes to a close, we reflect with gratitude and pride on the journey we’ve taken together. What began as an effort to reduce commercial tobacco use has blossomed into a movement grounded in culture, education, and community healing. Sacred Roots has been more than just a program—it’s been a space to reclaim tradition, empower youth, and open up real conversations about health and wellness in Native communities.

Honoring the Sacred, Challenging the Harmful

At the heart of Sacred Roots has been our commitment to honoring the traditional and sacred use of tobacco while addressing the dangers of commercial tobacco use. We educated our youth and families about the deep spiritual significance of traditional tobacco—how it’s used in ceremony, during Big Times, and as a sacred medicine—not to be confused with harmful commercial tobacco products that have led to generations of health issues like emphysema, heart conditions, and second- and third-hand smoke exposure.

"It has been my honor to work on behalf of the Sacred Tobacco program and the Coyote Valley membership. Our time together has been effective in all aspects of understanding how sacred tobacco is used. Working with the young adults has been refreshing and getting to know each of them assuring that commercial tobacco is not apart of their lives."-Jaime Boggs, Youth Engagement Coordinator

Community at the Center

Over the life of the program, we hosted impactful, culturally grounded workshops and events that brought the community together. One of the highlights was our Community Family Wellness Forum, which offered:

• Interactive games and raffles

• Engaging presentations on tobacco-related health risks

• Free lunch and dinner

• Space for dialogue about smoke exposure in homes, especially how smoke can travel through ventilation and impact entire families, but more than that, we celebrated culture through hands-on workshops including:

• Drum-making

• Wreath making

• Acorn necklace crafting

• Yoga and wellness sessions

• Community gardening

• Slim bar workshops

These gatherings created opportunities for open, honest conversations about commercial tobacco's harm while highlighting the beauty and resilience of our traditions.

Youth in Action: Youth Quest 2025

One of the most powerful moments from this year was when several of our youth and staff attended Youth Quest in Sacramento this past March. Over three days, our youth joined hundreds of others from across the state to march in a rally at the Capitol, raising their voices about the importance of public health and standing up to the tobacco industry from a youth’s perspective.

California has made meaningful progress in reducing youth tobacco use, but the fight is far from over. Big tobacco companies continue to target youth through creative marketing tactics and products designed to ensure easy access. Closing these gaps is crucial for protecting the next generation—and our youth learned firsthand how to make their voices heard.

Through this experience, they not only became advocates for change but also learned about the lobbying and legislative process, gaining tools that will serve them well into adulthood.

Empowering Youth & Building a Tobacco-Free Future

Sacred Roots prioritized youth engagement through mentorship, peer education, and culturally relevant prevention efforts. Young people learned not only about the risks of commercial tobacco but also about their identity, heritage, and the importance of making informed, empowered choices. By centering Indigenous values and voices, our youth were not just participants—they were leaders.

As We Wrap Up: The Roots Are Still Growing

Though this chapter is closing, the seeds planted by Sacred Roots will continue to grow. The knowledge shared, the connections made, and the cultural pride rekindled will live on in the families, youth, and elders who took part. We are grateful for every person who attended a workshop, shared their story, or simply showed up with an open heart.

Thank you for walking this journey with us. Together, we are reclaiming our sacred roots and paving the way for a healthier, stronger, tobacco-free generation.

Stay connected. Stay empowered. Stay rooted.