Mainstream public health efforts have often not been culturally tailored to address poor health outcomes in the American Indian population and as a result have been largely unsuccessful. 5 Healing communities harmed by federal, state, and local policies 6 In addition, 71% of American Indians in Minnesota reported they were exposed to secondhand smoke from commercial tobacco at community locations on a regular basis. In Minnesota, 59% of American Indian adults smoke commercial tobacco, 5 compared to 14.5% of Minnesota’s overall adult population. However, due to the lack of partnerships between local governments and tribal nations, commercial tobacco use rates in many tribal nations has remained at higher levels.ĭue to all of these reasons – historical trauma, forced assimilation efforts, genocide, policy failures, and targeted commercial tobacco agendas – American Indians suffer from some of the highest rates of smoking and chronic diseases and have the lowest life expectancy of any group in the United States. Many state and local commercial tobacco control policies, such as clean indoor air policies and retail practice regulations, have driven the sharp decline in smoking in the general population. Given this unique status, American Indian governments are often excluded from local policy change initiatives. As such, tribal nations are not subject to laws or policies enacted at the state or local levels. As sovereign nations, American Indian tribes have self-governing abilities that are equivalent to the federal level of U.S. In addition to not having access to traditional tobacco, American Indian communities have been specifically targeted by the tobacco industry’s marketing tactics for decades (for example, American Spirit tobacco labeling). Targeted marketing and policy failures have also contributed to American Indian health inequities Because of these forced cultural shifts, commercial tobacco use is a driver of health inequities among American Indian populations. This resulted in addiction to commercial tobacco, such as smoking cigarettes. American Indians only had access to highly addictive and harmful commercial tobacco. For centuries, American Indians did not have access to traditional tobacco for cultural and religious purposes. This law “prohibited Native American ceremonial activity under pain of imprisonment.” 4 American Indians were not free to practice their religion until 1978, when the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed. The Indian Religious Crimes Code of 1883 tried to end American Indian religion. 4” This was followed by several other laws designed to “kill the Indian and save the man.” 4 The first policy of cultural genocide was the Indian Civilization Fund Act of 1819, which was created to “… ‘civilize’ Indian peoples in accordance with alien cultural norms imposed on them by a conquering majority. The United States government has a longstanding history of policies designed to destroy American Indian culture. 3 Colonization and cultural genocide of Indigenous peoples in the United States devastated traditional systems that naturally fostered physical activity, healthy diet, use of traditional tobacco, and spiritual connection with the land. Watch Reclaiming Sacred Tobacco to learn more about traditional tobacco and how Minnesota's American Indian communities use traditional practices to promote a healthier lifestyle.įederal policies stripped access to traditional tobacco and devastated American Indian communitiesĪmerican Indians have faced historical trauma, forced assimilation efforts, and several forms of genocide that continue to negatively affect their health. Commercial tobacco products are highly addictive and contain cancer-causing chemicals and additives. Commercial tobacco products like cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, and chew are manufactured and sold by the tobacco industry. Traditional tobacco is different from commercial tobacco. 1,2 Traditional tobacco use varies by tribe, and some tribes do not use any sacred or traditional tobacco. Traditional tobacco is natural, not inhaled or addictive, and has no additives.
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