Forum to highlight tobacco use and culture

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The Alberta Aboriginal Networking Forum on Tobacco will be held March 29 to 31 at the Amiskwaciy Academy in Edmonton. Forum co-ordinator Jessica Daniels said she is expecting 120 people to attend the three-day forum presented by the Nechi Training, Research and Health Promotions Institute in partnership with the Metis Nation of Alberta, the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission and Health Canada.

Daniels said the main focus of the forum will be on the effects of environmental tobacco smoke, or what is more commonly referred to as second-hand smoke. Also on the agenda will be discussions about creating bylaws and policies in Aboriginal communities that would provide smoke-free environments, and making provisions for tobacco use in traditional ceremonies.

"It is definitely a problem. I know that some Aboriginal organizations run into this in Edmonton, for example. If they want to have a pipe ceremony for an event they sometimes go through a lot of red tape, so we have to address both tobacco use as a health issue and for traditional use," she said.

Daniels said the forum will provide information on issues such as taxation enforcement, cessation, prevention and evaluations on the level of smoking in communities. Participants will also have a chance to talk to people who work on tobacco issues in Aboriginal communities.

On the first evening of the forum, there will be an award ceremony that will recognize those people who work in the areas of tobacco use. The awards will include youth leadership recognition and community issues recognition. The evening will include a banquet and entertainment by local performers.

"This is the first year we've recognized people in this award ceremony and we would like to keep it up," said Daniels. "All the entertainers are going to be Aboriginal youth, because we wanted to highlight to the public what it is to be an Aboriginal youth and to explore different ways so that they respect where they've come from and that they are also forging new paths for the next generation. At the forum we will have Elders there who will be providing us with prayers, at both the opening and closing ceremonies and at the awards night. They will also provide us with guidance around the traditional uses of tobacco issues and generally making sure that we keep on track."