July 28, 2002
Source: ABC News
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20020728_705.html
On July 28, 2002 ABC News reported that "drought and wildfires in the Southwest have taken a huge toll on the natural materials that Native Americans use in their ceremonies... The staples include tobacco, whose smoke is used for relieving stress; corn, whose pollen is used for communicating with holy people and protection; and many normally resilient trees and plants, whose leaves are used for medicine."