The Aboriginal Tobacco Strategy (ATS) works to engage Aboriginal communities in the creation of health promotion strategies to decrease and prevent the misuse of tobacco.
Mission
To support Aboriginal peoples on their path to developing “tobacco wise” communities. A tobacco wise community distinguishes between traditional tobacco and commercial tobacco and has the knowledge, commitment, resources and skills to mobilize and deploy strategies to promote and protect the well being of its members.
Core Components
- Smoking prevention, protection and cessation
- Public education
- Capacity building
- Health promotion
- Collaborative partnerships and knowledge exchange
Accountability to Communities
Aboriginal Tobacco Strategy Working Group
The Aboriginal Tobacco Strategy Working Group is a body of Aboriginal people who have been identified for their commitment to and knowledge of tobacco related issues in the Aboriginal community. This group is an essential part of the Aboriginal Tobacco Strategy. Their voices provide guidance that is rooted in community-based knowledge and action.
Aboriginal Tobacco Strategy Tobacco Wise Community Highlights
The Aboriginal Tobacco Strategy funds community capacity building projects to support Aboriginal peoples on their path to developing tobacco wise communities.
Aboriginal communities have already developed many capacities as part of their ongoing work in addressing Aboriginal health issues. Tobacco wise community projects build upon existing strengths to enhance current capacities to address tobacco control issues in their community.
For the 2007-2008 year, the ATS encouraged proposals from Aboriginal communities and organizations interested in building projects to engage youth and families. Applicants were asked to focus their proposals on one or more of the following areas:
- Prevention – Discouraging young people from starting to smoke
- Protection - Educating youth about the harms of being exposed to second hand smoke
- Cessation – Encouraging and supporting youth and families in their quest to quit smoking
| Community |
Organization |
Amount Funded |
Brief Description of Project |
| Geraldton |
Geraldton Thunderbird Friendship Centre |
$10,000 |
A tobacco wise multi-media campaign created by the youth. Its focus is the prevention of commercial tobacco use among aboriginal women in their child bearing years. |
| Longlac |
Ginoogaming First Nation |
$7,500 |
A workshop on the dangers of smoking, fact-sheet development and the creation of pamphlets and posters. A walking program will be included as a physical activity component to combat the issue. |
| Forest |
Kettle & Stony Point Health Centre |
$4,800 |
The centre will develop public service announcements for the local radio to promote healthy lifestyles. They are also implementing a smoking cessation education and support program. |
| Ohsweken |
Six Nations Public Library |
$10,000 |
- Creation of a media centre "home theatre" for the library.
- A number of books and resources will be purchased discussing the harms of smoking. The project is tied into school curriculum.
- The science fair will have a category and award for the best tobacco wise science project
|
| North Bay |
North Bay Indian Friendship Centre |
$8,540 |
The centre will initiate a 12-week tobacco cessation program for youth involving:
- Art - traditional drum making
- Pipe ceremony
- Poster activities.
- Sports - basketball, pool and running.
- Media - movie making.
|
| Owen Sound |
M’wikwedong Native Cultural Resource Centre |
$2,600 |
A six week program where children will learn about the media and how they can use it for advocacy. The centre will arrange teachings about traditional and non-traditional use of tobacco. |
| Timmins |
Métis Nation of Ontario |
$7,500 |
The development of smoking cessation and prevention materials for youth 11-18. Materials will provide information on the health and economic benefits of not smoking. There will also be a tobacco educational component integrated the youth activities. |
| Massey |
Sagamok Naandwedjige – Gamik Health & Social Services Unit |
$10,000 |
A program to teach youth about the effects of smoking and to support them with a smoking cessation program. |
| MacTier |
Moose Deer Point First Nation |
$4,500 |
A project designed to culminate awareness of the dangers of smoking in all age groups with the community. Also include is the design and creating of posters and a billboard for the community. |
| Dryden |
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation |
$7, 200 |
- A Pow wow to teach about the differences between Traditional Tobacco and Commercial Tobacco.
- A calendar contest, sponsoring a "quit day", and promoting fitness.
|
| Nipigion |
Red Rock Indian Band |
$6,900 |
- Educational sessions aimed at teaching youth about the traditional uses of tobacco and how to live a healthier lifestyle through exercise and movement. Teachings on how to grow your traditional tobacco.
- A pamphlet;
- A Sports Clinic;
- A training workshop for "quit smoking" coaches
| 2007-2008 Tobacco Wise Community Projects
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