COE staff member, and Latino Coordinating Center for a Tobacco-Free California, and ADEPT member, Yaneth L. Rodriguez was invited to speak on a panel at the National Tribal Tobacco Conference on June 27-28, 2024 at the University of Minnesota. The panel was called, “Power in Unity – Cross Cultural Panel” with Rod Lew (Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership), Carol McGruder (African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council), Lou Moerner (Lou Moerner Consulting), and Yaneth L. Rodriguez (University of Southern California).
This conference addressed the traditional uses of tobacco and commercial tobacco impact in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities across the United States. A disparate proportion of AI/AN communities use commercial tobacco compared to other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. High prevalences of commercial tobacco use among AI/AN Tribes are directly reflected in the disproportionate rates of chronic diseases in AI/AN populations. There is an urgent need to bring Tribes together at a national level to educate one another on successes and setbacks in commercial tobacco prevention and control among AI/ANs.
The conference emphasized AI/AN persons returning to a healthy relationship with tobacco, the importance of creating health equity, and the need to provide an opportunity for networking and collaboration.
The audience was composed of AI/AN community leaders, community members, healthcare providers serving these communities, researchers in tobacco and healthcare, students interested in public health and tobacco prevention/cessation.
Below are pictures from the event and panel.
