Tribal Voices

The Red Medicine Tobacco Prevention Project (RMTPP) was funded by the California Tobacco Prevention Program from 2020 to 2025. This program worked with tribal and urban Native youth in Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties to address commercial tobacco use disparities impacting their communities. The project worked to support Native youth in reclaiming traditional tobacco and preserving cultural values and practices. TRDRP is grateful to the Red Medicine Project for interviewing these community members and to the individuals listed below who consented to share their stories with us.

The Red Medicine Project had the honor of interviewing tribal community members across generations and throughout the Central Valley.

From the Tule River Tribe, Ms. Marcia Hunter, tribal elder and culture bearer shares her wisdom on tobacco (traditional and commercial) related to community wellness, touching on approaches and traditions.
Ms. Cathy Jo Dickinson, a Choctaw Nation tribal member provides a powerful recovery journey story that includes becoming nicotine-free.
Mr. Craig Silas, Tule River youth and youngest interviewee shares his thoughts on culture and tobacco.
From the Tachi Tribe, Ms. Davina Thomas discusses her high school tobacco presentation on the environmental harms of cigarette butts.
Ms. Lillian Weese, Wukchumni Tribal youth, shares her perspective on the commercial tobacco harms to health and Big Tobacco targeting practices.