Tobacco Forum Delegates Discuss Curbing Smoking

Tobacco Forum Delegates Discuss Curbing Smoking

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 14:06

 

 

Experts are meeting in Saskatoon today to discuss ways of cutting smoking rates on reserve.

 

The national event is sponsored by the Assembly of First Nations, which estimates more than 50 per cent of First Nations citizens smoke.

 

A number of different techniques to get people to stop smoking have been discussed at the session.

 

Some First Nations have created prevention programs where youth must come up with policies that work for them.

 

One presenter from B.C. said members of her band recently dressed up in traditional costumes, entered the bingo hall, and walked around the building before making a speech about the dangers of smoking.

 

Another effort saw a band member dressed up as the Grim Reaper visiting schools carrying a sign which said: “Keep Smoking Kids, I’m Waiting For You”.

 

Sonja Issac-Mann is the assistant director of health for the AFN.

 

She says the purpose of the forum is to give people ideas of how to develop anti-smoking programs with their existing funding.

 

One First Nations delegate from eastern Canada says the habit is a crisis on his reserve.

 

He estimated 61% of adults on the reserve smoked — along with 33% of youth, some as young as eight years of age.

 

Patricia Ironstand of the Battlefords Tribal Council says BTC bands have tried to raise awareness in their communities, sometimes with mixed results.

 

Ironstand adds smoking is the norm in many communities, and that has to change.