The traditional use of tobacco did not emerge on its own as a reason for cigarette smoking among American Indian teens. Only when prompted for a possible explanation for the relatively high prevalence of smoking among American Indians did some of the youth explain that tobacco was traditional in Indian culture. The teens understood the difference between smoking for ceremonial purposes and recreational cigarette smoking, and many were able to articulate traditional uses of tobacco. They discussed how their families would not mind if their smoking `had to do with tribal stuff'. Some of the teens also mentioned noticing a fair amount of smoking at Indian events, such as pow wows, stomp dances and sun dances.