The Respecting the Tobacco Way Project (RTW) is a youth led, youth driven commercial tobacco prevention campaign funded by The American Legacy Foundation. The ultimate goal of the project is to reduce commercial tobacco use among American Indian (AI) youth in the Montana (MT) and Wyoming (WY) area by engaging Tribal youth as agents of social change. RTW provides culturally relevant teachings to help the youth reflect on their role in the future of AI and tobacco. The teachings include:
Traditional tobacco use to differentiate from addictive and recreational use.
Industry tribal exploitation to reveal how the tobacco industry has targeted AI, funded cultural events, and exploited AI images and symbols for commercial purposes.
Media analysis and production. The youth will use this knowledge to develop culturally relevant media of their choice, such as PSAs, billboards, posters, t-shirts, traditional and rap lyrics, animations, TV and radio spots, and other media, by and for MT-WY AI young people.
Partners and collaborators for RTW include Tribal Tobacco Specialists, Native American Tobacco Coalition of Montana (NATCOM), Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP), Billings Area IHS, Health Educators, Montana Office of Public Instruction, and most importantly the MT and WY Tribes. The project is also under guidance of a Tribal Work Group comprised of Tribal youth, Tribal Tobacco Specialists, NATCOM, Tribal health and lay educator staff, IHS staff, language instructors, and cultural and traditional leaders of each Tribe.
Updates:
Montana & Wyoming Native Youth Academy 2008 Native Youth Rising - “Developing Our Native Power” at the University of Montana - Missoula, Montana, June 23-27, 2008
Youth Gathering of Native Americans (GONA), Bozeman, MT, November 7-9, 2008
Youth Gathering of Native Americans (GONA), Missoula, MT, March 12-14, 2009
Produced Youth lead Media campaigns including: TV, PSA, radio spots, posters, brochures, flyers, newsletters; Cultural tobacco knowledge archives
Tobacco Control proclamations that focus on cessation and keeping tobacco sacred
Links to other Websites
National Native Commercial Tobacco Abuse Prevention Network - Committed to preserving the sacred status of traditional tobacco and its ceremonial, sacred uses. keepitsacred.org/network/
American Legacy Foundation - Legacy is committed to building a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit. www.legacyforhealth.org
All Nations Breath of Life - Devoted to Native American lung health & smoking cessation.http://www.anbl.org/
Native American Tobacco Coalition of Montana - We promote voice, vision and values of the responsible use of sacred, ceremonial tobacco to ensure family and community health. www.keeptobaccosacred.org Northern Plains Tobacco Prevention Project - Strengthening tobacco prevention and control efforts of Tribes. www.aatchb.org/nptpp/index.html
With Eagles Wings Tobacco Prevention Project - Keeping Tobacco Use Traditional for the people of the Wind River Indian Reservation www.wewtobaccoprevention.com
