Keep Tobacco Sacred: Tribal Leaders and Youth Bringing Culture Back from the Brink of Extinction
Channel: NPAIHB
Date: 2020-11-27

The indigenous people of the South Central coast of Oregon – the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Tribes – grew tobacco for use in ceremony and gifting for thousands of years. But during the era of colonization and forced removal from tribal homelands, the particular coastal variety of tobacco that was common to these Tribes was lost. Today, these three Tribes make up the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI). While they have retained their strong cultural identity, the traditional tobacco plant was assumed by many to be extinct. However, one tribal biologist was determined to find it. After a decade of dead ends and false leads, he discovered a few remaining seeds lying dormant in a seed bank, thousands of miles away from the banks of the Coos river where it was last cultivated over 150 years ago. 

The Tribe celebrated the homecoming of their traditional tobacco plant and, with it, the restoration of an important part of their culture. Now this sacred plant is being used to connect CTCLUSI youth with their history, and teach the difference between traditional and commercial tobacco. Passing on these stories and perpetuating traditional tobacco use reminds the youth to "keep tobacco sacred". CTCLUSI youth show their commitment to honor the important cultural role of tobacco in their Tribe through signing a pledge to be commercial-tobacco free. This policy, developed jointly by the Tribe's public health and cultural leaders, is an example of how Northwest Tribes are creating unique tobacco control policy that embraces tribal culture and improves the health of their communities for generations to come.

Video production credit: Isaac Trimble