The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Examination of the development of culturally based strategies to create sustainable tobacco reduction practices in highly addicted indigenous populations will include a discussion of the historical, and cultural practices that have impacted and affected indigenous peoples health. Reclaiming and promoting indigenous communities' health practices and traditions will be discussed, and the characteristics of essential principles and programming elements of authentic tobacco reduction strategies.

Methods: Diagramming of culturally based tobacco reduction strategies to include examination of culturally based prevention, advocacy and policy components designed to promote health and wellbeing of indigenous communities. An examination of the evolution of the Blackfeet Tobacco programming, which includes Akak'stiman the traditional law making principles and cultural practices and an essential element of the culturally based health promotion strategy to prevent and arrest commercial tobacco addiction and practices, and reinstate Amskapipikuni legitimate (pistax'kaan) tobacco authority.

Results: Description of the characteristics of a culturally based policy strategy and an examination of the passage of the Blackfeet Tobacco Free Act, codified in the Blackfeet Nation Law and Order Code in 2005. Illustration of culturally based advocacy, coalition building, youth prevention and cessation activities in an American Indian community.