1. Policy advocates.

2. Health researchers and community health educators.

3. Youth and youth prevention workers

Key Points:

1. Present information specific to tobacco policy issues unique to Indian Country and tribal governments.

2. Discuss the role of tobacco in cultural and economic decision-making at the Tribal decision-makers.

3. Describe the role of culturally based communication, relationship principles and tobacco prevention programming as an essential tobacco policy strategy component.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify traditional tobacco control and tobacco policy health interventions practices.

2. Understand historical and cultural changes in tobacco use in American Indian communities.

3. Describe effective tobacco prevention strategy in impacting manufactured tobacco product addictions and role of tobacco health policy interventions.

Benefits:

During this sub-plenary the unique cultural, historical and tribal government issues that impact tobacco policy development in Indian country will be discussed. The social and cultural matrixes of traditional use of Pistax'kaan (tobacco), manufactured tobacco product addiction, policy and program advocacy in tribal environments and proactive solutions to improve the health of American Indians and Alaskan Native communities will be examined.

Topics include the role of ceremonial tobacco use, the place of gaming facilities in tribal economies, tribal-state revenue taxation share agreements and experience with other health policy interventions. Participants will understand the importance of traditional leadership principles, ancestral legacies, historical events, culturally based program design, cultural paradigms, communication techniques in the development of tribal tobacco policy advocacy strategies to improve and conduct health promotions campaigns in partnership with American Indian and Alaskan Natives.