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South Dakota QuitLine is a FREE resource available to any state resident 13 or older. Choose from three ways to leave smoking, vaping or chewing in the past. Quit, stay quit and breathe easy.

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TRIBAL TOBACCO ADVOCACY TOOLKIT

The purpose of the Toolkit is to support tribes and tribal allies with a framework for public health

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Youth & Young Adults

Children and young adults are especially vulnerable to loss of brain function as a result of vaping.
Even using e-cigarette devices without nicotine can cause damage. To protect your physical and mental health, it's time to quit.

Young Adults
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More Good years

Quitting is the difference between quality time with your family and missing out to catch your breath. Enjoy your years really living. Leave tobacco in the past, and live more good years.

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Control Tobacco

Access tools for educators, coalitions and more. Explore our media library, order educational or advocacy supplies and more.

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Regular Reminders

Communities don't adopt new policies overnight. Be prepared for implementation to take time.
Tribal Tobacco Advocacy Toolkit

Don't Let Them Forget

Expect it to take several years of regular reminders before the community gets used to the policy. 

Even after you see a shift in social norms, remain steadfast in enforcing the policy.

Planning

  1. Get signs to distribute.
    1. Your state department of health may offer free signs you can order and distribute.
    2. Customized signs to fit your local culture and policy can also be very effective.
    3. Use your coalition members to watch for businesses or locations that are in need of a sign.
    4. Don’t be afraid to follow-up if a business doesn’t post the sign you gave them.
  2. Support event organizers to enforce the policy.
    1. Provide enforcement notes and educational facts to the announcer.
    2. Sponsor an ad in the event program with a friendly policy reminder.
  3. Mail a letter with policy reminders on a recurring basis.
  4. Empower your supporters to give friendly verbal reminders if they see policy violations.
  5. Get friendly with law enforcement. Touch base periodically to find out how policy enforcement is going from their perspective. Let police officers know you appreciate their support. For more tips on policy compliance go to the section on monitoring compliance and threats.

What if?

Businesses aren’t posting the signs you provided…

  • Don’t be afraid to give them a friendly reminder. 
  • Offer assistance to post the sign for them. Youth volunteers tend to get the best response with this approach.
Examples of Regular Reminders

Čaŋlí Coalition

The Čaŋlí Coalition drafted a letter to notify all businesses of Ordinance 77 after it took effect. The Tribal Chairman and Secretary signed the letter and the Čaŋlí Coalition mailed the letter to business owners and managers. The Čaŋlí Coalition got a list of businesses from their partner at the Tribal Revenue Office and a list of Tribal Programs from the mail distribution office. This process is used every year on the anniversary of the Ordinance passing to remind businesses of the law.

We faced challenges enforcing our smoke-free policy at events like powwows and rodeos. Event organizers and announcers were happy to help with a little support (see planning section above).

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To include cultural lifeways, we… organized a Lakota Smoke-Free sign contest and got some beautiful artwork to customize our signs and give them a local feel.

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