At 86, Grandma Yvonne quit smoking after 74 years—inspiring her family across three generations. Her story proves it's never too late to reclaim your health. With counseling and medication support, tobacco addiction can be overcome at any age.
Discover what's happening in Indian Country this February! The National Native Network's latest newsletter brings you essential updates, community insights, and resources shaping Native American communities. Stay informed and connected with the most relevant news affecting Native peoples nationwide. Download your copy today.
American Indian and Alaska Native communities face a tobacco crisis, with smoking rates at 38.5%—double the national average. Lung cancer, 90% attributable to smoking, leads causes of death among Alaska Natives. Yet comprehensive solutions exist: Medicaid coverage for cessation treatments, tribal resolutions, environmental policy changes, and community-driven interventions can turn this winnable battle.
Elizabeth Peratrovich, a Tlingit activist and Alaska Native Sisterhood leader, championed the groundbreaking Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945—America's first such law. Her powerful testimony before the Senate gallery countered racist opposition and secured passage, protecting Alaska Natives from systemic discrimination a decade before Brown v. Board of Education.
Discover how tobacco use impacts American Indian cancer mortality. Join Dr. Donald Warne's presentation on creating effective tobacco control policies with tribal leadership. Learn to identify usage patterns and mortality trends while exploring healthcare professionals' crucial role in policy development. Access downloadable slides and webinar recordings.
Solano County cities mostly received failing tobacco-control grades, yet officials highlight genuine progress. Suisun City banned smoking at park events, and the county prohibited smoking on all owned campuses. Fairfield, Benicia, Vallejo, and Vacaville actively pursue stronger policies, proving community health improvements extend beyond letter grades.
Olathe city leaders voted 6-1 to raise the tobacco purchasing age from 18 to 21, making it the first city in Johnson County to implement this rule. The new ordinance applies to vaping materials too, with violators facing $25 fines and potential tobacco education courses.
Three Missoula grocery stores are fighting childhood obesity by offering free fruit to children while shopping. Orange Street Food Farm and two Missoula Fresh Market locations give bananas and other healthy snacks to kids twelve and under, promoting nutritious eating habits and making shopping easier for parents navigating stores with hungry youngsters.
The American Lung Association's 2016 report reveals a troubling trend: while youth cigarette smoking declined, use of e-cigarettes and cigars surged to record highs. With nearly a quarter of high school students still using tobacco, policymakers must act aggressively. The report grades states and federal government on prevention funding, smokefree laws, taxes, and cessation treatment access—most earning failing marks for insufficient action against America's leading preventable cause of death.
Oregon faces a heated debate over tobacco licensing. Public health advocates and retailers clashed at the State Capitol over Senate Bill 1559, which would require state licensing of tobacco retailers. While retailers support a statewide system, advocates want local jurisdictions to impose additional restrictions, including pharmacy bans and school-distance requirements, to combat the nation's highest youth tobacco sales rate.
Attending any of these upcoming events? Have other events to share? Let us know! Email us at NNN@ITCMI.ORG to share your event information or to get on our list serve for event updates.
Great Lakes Area Tribal Public Health Conference | LEARN MORE
National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH) | San Diego, California | Registration will open July 7, 2026 | Abstract Submissions will open on August 4 | LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
National Conference on Tobacco or Health | The National Network of Public Health Institutes is excited to announce the start of registration for the next National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH), June 29 - July 1, 2027 in San Diego, CA. | Questions: nctoh@nnphi.org | LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
