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Working To Keep Tobacco Sacred

Traditional and cultural use of tobacco has had a sacred purpose with many American Indian tribes. It is used for prayer, to show respect, to heal, and give spiritual protection. Tobacco was never meant to be abused. Sacred use of tobacco does not include the use of commercial tobacco products.

Did You Know?

American Indians in California smoke and chew commercial tobacco twice as much as other Californians.(1)

40% of American Indian deaths in California are related to commercial tobacco abuse. (2)

Native tobacco and its smoke are effective for curing a number of ailments, including: muscle aches, ear aches, soothes swelling, skin infections, and tooth aches. (3)

1. Hodge, F.S. Prevalence of Smoking/Smokeless Tobacco Use In 18 Northern California American Indian Health Clinics, Volume A, American Indian Cancer Control Project, Berkeley, CA 1994 2. Hodge, F.S., It's Your Life-It's Our Future Stop Smoking Project: A Report on American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. National Cancer Institute; 1999: 72. 3. Teach Children to Respect Beliefs about Traditional Tobacco Use, AITEP, 2000.

National Native Commercial Tobacco Abuse Prevention Network.

 

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    America Reaffirms Health Care for Indian Country
    National Indian Health Board
    Washington, DC – The United States’ 564 federally‐recognized tribes claim victory with today’s
    historic passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The House passed the Senate’s
    health care reform bill by a vote of 219 to 212 which includes the reauthorization of the Indian Health
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