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Anti-Tobacco Campaigns in the Native-American Community

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Native Americans have used the tobacco plant for ceremonial purposes for thousands of years. But today tobacco is generally synonymous with disease and death for their community. Three out of every five deaths in Native communities can be attributed in some way to smoking or tobacco use. Although there are geographic and tribal differences, generally American Indians smoke and chew commercial tobacco twice as much as other groups. Nearly 41 percent of all American Indians and Alaska Natives-- both men and women-- use tobacco. Native women and girls have the highest rate of smoking during pregnancy: 21 percent. Even in Alaska, where tobacco is not indigenous or a sacred herb, the native population uses tobacco at twice the rate of non-natives in Alaska: 46% versus 23%. And it's not just smoking; chewing tobacco, also known as spit or smokeless tobacco, is also a major problem among Native Americans-and despite what many people think, it's not a safe alternative.

Native youth participate in many events where tobacco is promoted, such as rodeos, farmers' clubs, and pow wows. There are high rates of use both among boys and girls. Tobacco also has spiritual significance for the Native American community:

"When we "smudge", brushing the smoke from the tobacco into our bodies, the original purpose of that was to keep away the pests because tobacco has nicotine, which is a natural pesticide. But then it also evolved into this idea, it will also keep away the spirits that want to harm us as well. Using it as a way to cleanse our beings, our spirits." - Gerry Rainingbird

Native American women and men are working to put an end to recreational tobacco use in their communities. A lot of tribes are re-educating their people about the traditional uses. At the National Native Conference on Tobacco, advocates share strategies aimed at reversing this deadly tobacco trend. They say one important tool is to teach people to discriminate between traditional and commercial tobacco. Commercial tobacco products, they point out, contain nearly 4-thousand chemical additives, many of which are carcinogenic. They also say encouraging Native American youngsters to connect with the significance of tobacco can be a powerful antidote to misuse of tobacco. Prevention activities are held in conjunction with basketball tournaments, pow-wows, health fairs, and cultural dinners. The key is to get communities to develop strategies that are a fit for them and their nation.

These anti-smoking advocates also address policy issues. One third of Native Americans live on reservations. Indian and Alaskan native lands are sovereign nations and not subject to state laws prohibiting the sale and promotion of tobacco products to minors. There are few, if any restrictions on indoor smoking. With no taxes on cigarettes and an increase in internet sales of cigarettes, tribes may gain additional income but the price is high- greater access to commercial tobacco for young and old.

Advocates also fight the use of cultural symbols, designs and images to sell cigarettes - a long time practice that still continues today. Gerry Rainingbird says the Santa Fe Tobacco Company has exploited the use of Native American symbolism and their sacred use of the pipe. He also says the company has misled and misrepresented themselves as being an Indian owned tobacco company that fosters and encourages traditional use of tobacco, which he says is not the case. Iona Star agrees: "They use the "Natural American Spirit" tobacco and they put our images on these things and it makes people think the Indians are helping them do this, that we condone this, but it isn't so."

Then there's the challenge to secure additional dollars for an under funded Indian Health Service that has many priorities. Tobacco prevention and education often gets pushed aside for more pressing issues. But according Gerry Rainingbird, "If we address tobacco prevention now, we will save millions and millions of dollars in health care costs treating those diseases caused by smoking and chewing commercial tobacco products."

LINKS AND RESOURCES

National Indian Health Board

Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board

California Rural Indian Health Board

Indian Health Service - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

American Lung Association

Office on Smoking and Health - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention