Sasha Sky and Luciana Rodrigues Ontario Cancer Care NAHO 2009 National Conference

1. Tobacco-Wise Sports and Recreation: A
youth driven approach
Our People, Our Health
NAHO
November 25th, 2009
Sasha Sky and Luciana
Rodrigues

2. Introductions
 Sasha Sky – former MAKWA youth advisor
Making Aboriginal Kids Walk Away ….from tobacco
abuse
 Luciana Rodrigues, Health Promotion Specialist
Aboriginal Tobacco Program, Cancer Care Ontario
 Youth Action Alliance Manitoulin Island (YAAMAN)
 Native Student Alliance (Blind River)
 Member of OFIFC Youth Council
 Elder Chris George
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3. Background – First Nation Communities
and Tobacco Use
Sweetgrass
Sage Tobacco
Cedar
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4. Background – First Nation Communities
and Tobacco Misuse
 58% smoking - 18+ First Nation communities
 61% 15-17 yr old girls
 47% 15-17 yr old boys
 50% youth exposed to cigarette smoke
Data Source: First Nations Regional Longitudinal
Health Survey, 2002-2003
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5. Smoking by Age Group
Smoking status of First Nations adults (%) by age group
80
70
Percentage of daily and occasional
60
50
smokers
40
30
20
10
0
18-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+
Age group
Source: First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey, 2002-2003
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6. Aboriginal Tobacco Program – Working
with youth
 Aboriginal Youth Summit – 2007
 Planning at the Knowledge Exchange Forum – 2008
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7. Youth Chose Little NHL
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8. Tobacco-Free Sports Timeline
1996 Smoke free Soccer [United States]
2002 World No Tobacco Day theme is Tobacco
Free Sports—Play it Clean! [WHO]
2003 Nova Scotia; British Columbia
2008 Play Live Be Tobacco Free
(Ontario)

9. Tobacco-Wise Little NHL Project
Approach:
 Partnered with already established groups
 Workshop – face-to-face
 Teleconferences
Project Goals
 Raise awareness of harmful effects of commercial
tobacco among participants of the Little NHL
 Tobacco-Wise Policy adoption by the Little NHL
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10. Adaptation - Visual
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11. Banner and Poster
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12. Adaptation – Language
 Tobacco-Free to Tobacco-Wise
 Language in the policy
• Discrimination
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13. Adaptation – Language - Policy
 This policy does not seek to discriminate against
individuals who use commercial tobacco
products. However, in order to promote tobacco-
wise lifestyles, the use of commercial tobacco
products will not be allowed during Little NHL
games and activities such meetings, practices,
banquets and any other events associated with
the Little NHL.
 The use of Traditional Tobacco is to be respected
throughout the tournament and at all Little NHL
events
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14. Adaptation – Language
 Language in the policy
• Sponsorship
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15. Adaptation - Approach
 Balancing differences in approaches
Example:
 Non-Aboriginal Youth Action Alliance
(YAA) approached us to become involved
in the Tobacco-Wise Little NHL campaign
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16. Different Perspectives
Support for collaboration:
 Collaboration is encouraged
 Provides a good opportunity for knowledge
transfer
 Minimizes duplication of efforts
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17. Different Perspectives
Concerns about collaboration:
 Non-Aboriginal group would ―take over‖ the
event
 Non-Aboriginal group would not understand what
is meant by Tobacco-Wise and what is traditional
tobacco
 Little NHL spectators may not like to be given
information about smoking from non-Aboriginal
youth
 Non-Aboriginal youth might feel out of place
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18. How to balance these perspectives?
Let the youth decide.
Non-Aboriginal YAA was invited to participate on
the following conditions:
 1. All non-Aboriginal youth assisting must be
16yrs+
 2. The YAA group will meet up with Little NHL
group on Sunday so that they can be briefed on
Traditional Tobacco and on the Little NHL
campaign
 3. Buddy system - The non-Aboriginal youth will
partner up with an Aboriginal youth when
handing out leaflets and postering.
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19. Outcomes - Awareness
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20. Outcomes – Policy
 Tobacco-Wise Policy presented to Executive
Committee at the end of May (Manitoulin Island)
 Committee did not endorse the policy but they
are very supportive of the initiative and have
asked us to participate at the 2010 tournament.
They have also agreed to sign a letter of support.
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21. Outcomes - Feedback from youth
 9 out 10 youth want to stay involved in this campaign
Some comments from youth:
 ―I met some great friends and it was a life experience.
Also, the booth we had set up at the arena convinced a lot
of youth/adults to participate in what we did and what we
were there for.‖
 ―Yes, I really enjoyed participating in this campaign. This
event really helped me come out of my "shell" and it was
really exciting to meet new people. To take part in this
campaign really has changed my perspective on hockey as
well. =) It was awesome!‖
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22. Lessons Learned
 Let the youth set the agenda
 Be culturally relevant but don’t over do it
 Meet the community where they are at
 Facilitate discussion on sensitive issues and
encourage youth to make decisions on how to
proceed
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24. Thank you
Luciana Rodrigues Sasha Sky
Health Promotion Specialist Student – University of Guelph
Aboriginal Tobacco Program – CCO
ssky@uoguelph.ca
luciana.rodrigues@cancercare.on.ca
(former Youth Advisor for MAKWA)
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