Ep. 54 Laughter Is Our Medicine with Teresa Choyguha

In Indian Country, teasing is a love language and humor is survival. In this episode I catch up over the phone with Tesera Choyguha (Tohono O’odham), a multi-talented Native comedian, cultural educator, utilitarian potter, and retired Toka player. Tee and I go way back to around 2013, when I first joined their Toka team called Gewkdag, in Sells, Arizona. For those unfamiliar, Toka is a traditional O’odham women’s game similar to field hockey. We have stayed connected ever since, and it is always a joy to run into each other and catch up.

Photo of Teresa (left) and Tina (Right) during the Mul-Chu-Tha Toka Tournament in March 2014 Teresa (right) and her daughter Summer (left)

Hard Work, Humbling Times, and Healing Laughter

Teresa brings a deeply grounding and human story, sharing her family’s profound migration journey from the traditional O’odham homelands in Mexico across the border into southern Arizona. Growing up alongside her family working in the grueling farm fields, Teresa’s upbringing was shaped by relentless hard work and intensely humbling circumstances. Amidst the sweat, exhaustion, and financial struggles of laboring under the desert sun, humor became their ultimate survival mechanism. Rather than letting poverty dim their spirits, her family used laughter, teasing, and sharp wit as daily medicine to ease the physical toll of farm work. This beautiful blend of tireless labor, cultural resilience, and deep-seated familial joy laid the entire foundation for Teresa’s comedy career, showing audiences that the truest comedy is often forged in life’s most humbling and raw moments.  Photo of Teresa C.

3 Sisters Comedy

Teresa is a founding member of 3 Sisters Comedy, a powerhouse, all-female Indigenous stand-up group. A proud citizen of the Tohono O’odham Nation in southern Arizona, Choyguha (often known by her stage name “Sh-Girl”) performs alongside fellow Native comedians Adrianne Chalepah (Kiowa/Apache) and Deanna MAD (Tonawanda Seneca). Originally founded in 2014 as “The Ladies of Native Comedy,” the group officially rebranded to 3 Sisters Comedy in 2020 to reflect their tight-knit bond and the traditional agricultural concept of the “three sisters” (corn, beans, and squash) growing together to sustain life. As part of this episode we also explore why laughter is considered vital medicine in Indigenous communities. For general inquiries they can be reached at  [email protected]

Photo of the 3 Sisters comedians from left to right, Adrianne Chalepah, Deanna MAD, and Teresa Choyguha. Picture courtesy of T. Choyguha. Left to right, Adrianne Chalepah, Deanna MAD, and Teresa Choyguha. Picture courtesy of T. Choyguha.

Indigenous Comedy Live

Hosted outdoors at the historic Hotel Congress Plaza, Indigenous Comedy Live made history as a first-of-its-kind benefit show showcasing the vibrant power of Native storytelling and humor. Popular Tucson native and Reservation Dogs actor Jon Proudstar served as the Master of Ceremonies, guiding an electric evening under the stars. Teresa delivered a standout performance alongside fellow Native comics Bobby Dues, Gilarious Wolf Brown, and Jameson D. Lopez.

This show was produced in partnership with the Southwestern Foundation for Education and Historical Preservation, all event ticket proceeds directly benefited the Arizona State Museum’s Public Programs Fund.

Teresa C. was a part of this amazing indigenous comedy event in April 2026 alongside many other talented Native acts. Here is the flyer that was put out for the event earlier this year.

Living Life to the Fullest

Even as Teresa navigates a difficult battle with cancer and other health challenges, her unbreakable spirit shines through as she continues to live her absolute best life. Tee embodies the true spirit of resilience. She proves that choosing joy, sharing laughs, and living your best life isn’t just about survival; it is a profound form of medicine. I am incredibly grateful to Tee for sharing her time, her stories, and her unbreakable spirit with me. This conversation is a beautiful reminder of why laughter truly is our medicine.

Graphic created by T. Andrew