Tala Smith

Writing and art have been lifelong passions for Tala Smith. Her desire to preserve the history and traditions of her Native American culture, and her interests in nature are important influences in her life. She has been an intertribal Southern Cloth dancer for over 22 years, in both California and Oklahoma, and an avid outdoorswoman most of her life. Her primary art medium is pencil and watercolor.

Tala's travels include the Los Padres National Forest, Muir Woods, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks, and the Anza Borego, Big Bear, Idyllwild, Mojave Desert, Palm Desert, San Gorgonio, Jedediah Smith, Mount Tamalpais, and Samuel P. Taylor State Parks. She has also enjoyed time in the Angeles and San Jacinto Mountains, Modjeska Canyon, Tule River Reservation, Pt. Reyes National Seashore, Tomales Bay, Oolampali, China Camp, Lake Berryessa, and many others. One of her favorite spots from childhood on has always been Santa Catalina Island off the Southern California coast, where her school went yearly for a week of outdoor life. While living in Eastern Oklahoma, she immersed herself in the rich local history and communed with the undisturbed woods and rivers as often as possible. Her art and writing both are influenced by these life experiences without question.

One friend describes Tala as the girl that never does anything halfway. With the same profound abandon, she is now active in disease awareness for autoimmunity, primarily Systemic Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and also Fibromyalgia. Having the diagnoses of Connective Tissue Disease and Fibromyalgia herself, she determined to help educate and promote awareness for others that are seeking answers for their unexplained illnesses. Pairing a continuing education in medical interests and a belief in the natural approach, she manages these challenges as conservatively as possible.

"I'm not sure if that glass is half empty or half full... all I know is somebody else got part of my drink!"