About TPP

Over the past five years, the Tribal Youth Ambassadors for Tobacco Control (TYA4TC) Project, led by the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center (CIMCC), worked to reduce secondhand and thirdhand smoke (SHS and THS) exposure among Native families in Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake counties. The project created educational materials, tools, and culturally grounded resources to help families build smoke-free homes and revitalize healthy practices—such as using traditional tobacco and medicines in respectful, sacred ways.

Community members participated in the project at many levels to ensure that materials reflected Native values and served our communities in the best way possible. Guided by an Advisory Committee and supported by youth leaders, the project developed a tailored curriculum and series of outreach activities rooted in cultural knowledge, storytelling, and wellness.

TYA4TC’s core message was that commercial tobacco does not replace sacred or traditional tobacco. Native peoples carry strengths—relationships with land and plant relatives, rich cultural practices, and intergenerational wisdom—that offer clear pathways to healing and wellness.

At the same time, the project recognized the long-term impacts of colonization, stress, and systemic harm that contribute to disproportionate rates of commercial tobacco use in Native communities. The tobacco industry has also exploited Native imagery to promote harmful products and profit from these disparities.

Despite these challenges, the project successfully reached over 300 families, supported youth leadership, and promoted community-driven education. Although the project officially concluded in June 2025, its materials and resources remain available to support continued advocacy, healing, and the protection of the air we all share.