Ts'ah (Sage) Bundle

Ts’ah (pronounced “s-ah”) is the Diné word for Sage, a sacred medicine traditionally used for cleansing, protection, and restoring harmony. Its scent is earthy, herbaceous, and sharp—known to clear spaces of stagnant or negative energy, ground the spirit, and invoke a sense of peace.

In Diné tradition, Ts’ah is more than a plant—she is a protector and purifier, an integral part of hózhǫ́, the sacred philosophy of balance, beauty, and right relationship that guides life. Burned in ceremony, her smoke carries prayers, offering a pathway for the spirit to reconnect with sacred order.

These healing qualities are also reflected in the plant’s physical properties. Research shows that compounds found in sage—such as cineole and thujone—have antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. These plant properties support respiratory health, mental clarity, and emotional balance, offering grounding and protection in every breath of her smoke.

📦 BUNDLE SPECS

• Approximately 4 inches in length

• Hand-harvested on private land in the Southwest

• Wrapped with natural unbleached cotton string

• Packaged with a tag noting your contribution to reparative justice

📜 HISTORY OF COLONIZATION

• Forced Removal – The Long Walk (1864): The U.S. Army, under Kit Carson, executed a scorched-earth policy destroying Diné homes and crops. Over 10,000 Navajo were forcibly marched up to 450 miles to Bosque Redondo, many dying along the way.
  

• 1868 Treaty of Bosque Redondo: Survivors were allowed to return, but only to a fraction of their original homeland, which was heavily surveilled and politically restricted.
  

• Dawes Act (1887): Designed to dissolve communal land ownership, this act allowed the U.S. government to divide tribal land into individual plots and sell the “surplus” to settlers, severely fragmenting Diné territory.

• Uranium Mining and Sacred Land Damage (20th century): Over 500 uranium mines were established on Diné land from the 1940s–1980s, causing contamination, cancer, and the desecration of sacred landscapes—severing relationships with medicine plants like Ts’ah.

⚖️ REPARATIVE JUSTICE EFFORTS

• Bears Ears National Monument Co-Management (2022): In a historic agreement, the Navajo Nation, along with four other tribes, entered into a co-management partnership with the U.S. government for Bears Ears National Monument. This collaboration restores Indigenous stewardship over sacred lands, ensuring the protection of culturally significant sites and traditional practices.

• Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (2012–2022): Through this federal initiative, nearly 3 million acres were consolidated and returned to tribal trust ownership across 15 states. The Navajo Nation actively participated, enhancing tribal sovereignty and enabling better land management aligned with traditional values.

• Diné CARE's Environmental Advocacy: Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment (Diné CARE) is a grassroots organization dedicated to protecting Navajo lands from environmental degradation. Their efforts have led to significant reforms, including amendments to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, addressing the impacts of uranium mining on Navajo communities.

• Reestablishing Diné Food Sovereignty: Initiatives like Arrowhead Lifeway support local Indigenous farmers by promoting traditional agriculture, engaging youth in farming practices, and revitalizing foodways. These efforts aim to reclaim farming lands and strengthen community resilience through sustainable practices.

• Fort Wingate Restoration Plan (2022): The Navajo Nation, in partnership with the Zuni Pueblo and the U.S. Army, implemented a restoration plan for the former Fort Wingate military site. The agreement focuses on environmental cleanup and the rehabilitation of culturally significant lands, facilitating their return to tribal stewardship.