Meet the Tla'Amin Tobacco Control Strategy Steering Committee
What is The Tla'Amin Tobacco Control Strategy?
Tla'Amin Tobacco Control Strategy is a program of Tla'Amin Community Health Board Society, and is one of eight national demonstration projects funded by the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada. Tla'Amin Tobacco Control Strategy is the only BC demonstration project. The other seven projects are located in communities in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
The overall goal of the three-year projects is to find new, more effective community-based aboriginal tobacco control strategies. Tobacco misuse is the biggest health problem facing First Nations people. Smoking causes more deaths than homicide, suicide, car accidents, drugs, alcohol and AIDS combined. Many existing programs to help people quit smoking or stay smoke free are not culturally appropriate to the needs of First Nations people and their communities, and therefore have not been effective.
The Project Coordinators meet with, and report regularly to, the FNIHB National Advisory Circle and the Program Officer, Marc Leblanc. In this way, as promising best practices emerge, the evidence and strategy is carefully documented and monitored. At the end of the demonstration projects in 2006, the eight communities will complete an evaluation of the project activities and findings. The lessons learned and the promising new aboriginal tobacco strategies will be shared with other First Nation communities in Canada.
Sliammon First Nation is privileged to be part of these good works. We are hopeful that other First Nation communities will find our experiences helpful on their journey toward a strong and smoke-free nation.
