Gina Boudreau
Tobacco Prevention Specialist:
White Earth Nation 218-983-3286 ext.1357
[email protected]
Jimmy Jackson, Ojibwe
Jimmy, a medicine man
who now passed on to the
spirit world, understood
how to heal. He gave a
story about the instructions
that the Creator gave to
people around the world.
The Creator gave gifts to all
our relatives in all countries
of the world.
The First Gift given was to native people was tobacco – the
Creator said “When you want to speak to me, when you want
me to listen to you, use this.” when we wake in the morning,
we put out an offering of tobacco and we thank creator for
everything we’ve been given, for each day. We use tobacco in
ceremony, we make tobacco ties , we use tobacco in a pipe (we
don’t inhale the smoke) and the smoke travels to give
messages to Creator. Asema travels through four levels before
reaching creator. We are also instructed to put asema in the
water.
Summary 2001-2007
Traditional Tobacco Use
•In 2007, there were increases in the use of
traditional tobacco use!
•Slightly more household members were using
traditional tobacco in 2007
•Less youth reported using commercial tobacco
(cigarettes, pouch or packaged) for ceremonial
purposes and native tobacco use doubled in
2007
Summary 2001 - 2007
Commercial Tobacco Use
•In 2007, there were decreases in youth smoking!
•Overall, slight less youth are smoking
•Among current smokers, youth tend to smoke
their first cigarette before they are 13 years old.
•Among youth smokers,
•Slightly more are smoking all 30 days in the
past month
•More can wait 1 week or more before
needing another cigarette
Summary 2001 - 2007
Secondhand Smoke Exposure
•Overall SHS exposure has decreased!
•In 2007:
•Slightly less youth were in the same room with someone
who was smoking in the past 7 days
•Slightly less youth were in a car with someone who was
smoking in the past 7 days
•Slightly less youth live with someone that smokes
cigarettes or uses smokeless tobacco
•Slightly less youth reported having friends who smoke
cigarettes, but slightly more reported having friends who
use smokeless tobacco
White Earth Reservation Tobacco Project Survey
Analysis (N=200)
Fall, 2008
Prepared for: White Earth Community Health Education
Program/Tobacco Prevention
Prepared by: Isaiah Brokenleg MPH Epidemiologist
Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center
You can’t sit at your desk and
expect to build community
support. You have to be out
there…building those good
relationships and a whole lot of
social capital. Your presence is
what the community remembers
down the road when smoking
discussions take place.
Leaders in the
community know that
we work on tobacco
issues constantly. The
fact that we are known
tobacco advocates
helped us to create
part of the desired
change in policy.
Gina Boudreau: Health Ed.WE
Nation\Tobacco
Prevention Specialist
Jean Dakota: WE CD Prog.
Jane Fox: WE CD Prog.
Mindy Iverson: S. Star
White Earth Nation
ishkonon-i’u bimaadizid
“Save that Life”
Tobacco Coalition
Julie Doerfler S. Star
LaRaye Anderson: Health Ed.
Mary Leff: Child Care
Mary Farley: WE Head Start
Jach Mohr
WE Pharmacy
Charles “Punkin” Hanks
WE Elder
Peggy Chisholm
WE Boys and Girls Club
Help smokers quit by offering cessation resources
and group support as requested.
Youth and elder involvement
Network with businesses, tribal and community
leaders, and workplaces to create smoke free policies
and reinforce policies when necessary.
The mission of the White Earth Reservation
ishkonon i’u bimaadizid (Save that life) Tobacco Coalition is to improve
the health of the White Earth Nation residents by providing education
about second-hand smoke, 3rd hand smoke, cessation, harms of
commercial use , tobacco policy creation, and policy
enforcement with a emphasis on utilizing this sacred medicine the way it
was originally intended to be used in order to create a positive impact on
the future
generation.
White Earth creates smoke free policy at Shooting Star Casino
By 2005 the coalition began discussing how we could help improve policy
at Shooting Star casino, hotels and event center.
Employees were of great help when they voiced concerns about
exposure to second hand smoke at service windows. The public was also
a huge contributor to the smoke free event center policy.
The coalition knew it was up to them to ask for more smoke free space
but never thought it was possible to create a 100% smoke free policy.
Instead we decided to develop a chip away strategy by keeping the focus
on small changes over a linger period of time.
The tribe is a sovereign
nation and this means
that it does not have to
follow the state wide
Freedom to Breathe Act.
This is a huge barrier to
furthering our work on
smoke free policies.
Within the casino. We
have to move forward
with baby steps in order
to create healthier
environments.
Lessons Learned about creating change:
Community ownership and participation is
critical. Framing the message in a positive
light via emphasis of the cultural aspect of
tobacco as our sacred medicine. That gift
from creator that we were give as
Anishinabeg in an important message in
building a healthier future for our people.
We encourage all coalition members to see
themselves as change agents. This requires
patience and persistence in our work which
builds a strong reputation with community
leaders.
Understand politics. When we deal with
elected officials we need to understand that
they are sensitive to feedback from
constituents. This can cause setbacks in
moving forward in policy creation and or
enforcement. Patience is necessary.
The Europeans were
given other gifts:
Wine and Bread. Creator instructed them on
how to uses these gifts. He said to them, “when
ever you want to think about me, talk to me,
use these gifts.” And they do, they communicate
during communion, during church service – they
eat little wafers of bread and drink wine. They
brought their gift with them when they came to
this continent.
In 2005 the Health
Educators began working
with a doctor on the
coalition and the EO of
the Indian Health Clinic.
We reviewed and revised
the smoke policy. Within
4 months a 100% smoke
–free policy was
implemented. This also
started a new program at
the clinic called the
Inform your primary care provider at
your regular appointment. If you are
referred from you provider, you will be
seen by our Tobacco Cessation Staff
the same day. If you do not have a
primary care provider, call the
appointment desk and schedule an
appointment in White Earth with the
next available provider. Products offered
include:
Nicotine Gum
Nicotine Patches
Zyban® (bupropion)
Chantix ® (varenicline)
A 4-week supply of medication is given at a
time. You will receive a telephone follow-up
within 2 weeks after the initial appointment.
The pharmacist or nurse will schedule an inperson follow-up every 4 weeks. provider,
pharmacist, or nurse and you will decide what
medication is best for you. They will also help
you plan the date you will quit using tobacco
products.
A maximum of 12 weeks of medication is given
during the program. Don’t be discouraged if
you attempt to quit and fail. You will be able
to re-enroll in the program 2 times per year.
For Calendar Year 2010:
230 patients enrolled: 38 are smoke
free which = a quit rate of 16.5% as of
9-22-11
For Calendar Year 2011 through 9-2211 there are 133 patients enrolled; 25
are now smoke free = quit rate of
18.8%
Number of visits for 2011 through 9-2211 = 359; with a projected number of
visits for the year to be 380. which
would be an increase in visits by 5.5%
Mii-gwetch
Thank You!
Questions?
Gina
Boudreau
White Earth
Nation
Ishkonon i’u’ bemaadiiziid
Save that Life
Gina Boudreau
Tobacco Prevention Specialist:
White Earth
Ojibwe