Group fights for sacred tobacco’s cultural future in Alberta Indigenous communities

By George Lee  Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The significance of a late-winter’s visit to the legislature lives on for its Indigenous participants, officially honoured for spreading their message about using tobacco in a good way. Tears welled up for a Tobacco Warrior from Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. And she wasn’t the only one. “I’ve never experienced anything like that before,” says Vanessa Kyme-Gilbert of the Keep Tobacco Sacred Collaboration. “Being there made me realize how important the work we are doing is. I just really appreciated that and to have the opportunity was very humbling,” continues the University of Alberta student and employee of the Yellowhead Tribal Council. “It felt good to see so many Indigenous people inside the legislature. You look around and we’re crying. It was great.” Adds…

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