BLACK HILLS CENTER FOR
AMERICAN INDIAN HEALTH
Health Related Research · Non-Profit Organization
P: (605) 348-6100
Over the past 20 years BHCAIH has collaborated with the Navajo Nation in addressing many health concerns among the Dine’. One of the longstanding projects has been Southwest Navajo Tobacco Education Prevention Project (SNTEPP). SNTEPP’s primary goal is to improve the health of Navajo people living in the Navajo Nation through education on the importance of commercial tobacco prevention, cessation, and policies while respecting the use of ceremonial tobacco. SNTEPP’s activities have included:
• Developing an advocacy network from both Navajo and non-Navajo organizations that will have the skills and capacity needed to participate in SNTEPP’s projects.
• Mobilizing the Navajo communities’ support for tobacco control policies in the Navajo Nation.
• Training – Certification in tobacco prevention and cessation for healthcare providers, teachers, youth, elders, etc.
• Identifying strategies that will decrease commercial tobacco use among the Navajo people through community-based participatory research approaches.
Recently, SNTEPP staff has worked with one of the Navajo healer organizations to establish policies in response to COVID-19 pandemic and how to conduct ceremonies in this time. Future efforts include fundraising strategies for the Navajo traditional healer organizations to address the health outcomes related to COVID-19.
SNTEPP staff have also worked closely with the Air is Life Health Coalition to create a legislation that prohibits using commercial tobacco products in enclosed and indoor areas on the Navajo Nation. On October 19, 2021, the 24th Navajo Nation Council passed Legislation No. 0174-21 by a vote of 20 in favor and 3 opposed, which enacts the Niłch’ éí Bee Ííńá - Air is Life Act of 2021. On November 6th, 2021, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer were joined by members of the 24th Navajo Nation Council and the Air is Life Health Coalition, as they signed into the law the “Niłch’ Éí Bee Ííná – Air is Life Act of 2021” through Resolution CO-58- 21. For more information visit: HOME | Air Is Life (navajoairislife.com)
Southwest Navajo Tobacco Education Prevention Project
SNTEPP
Project Mission
The Southwest Navajo Tobacco Education Prevention Project (SNTEPP)’s primary goal is to improve the health of Navajo people living in the Navajo Nation through commercial tobacco prevention, cessation, and policies, while respecting the use of ceremonial tobacco. With hundreds of Navajo people, especially the youth, becoming addicted each year, the SNTEPP is committed to its people and work.
Programs include:
• Developing an advocacy network from both Navajo and non-Navajo organizations that will have the skills and capacity needed to participate in SNTEPP’s projects.
• Mobilizing the Navajo communities’ support for tobacco control policies in the Navajo Nation.
• Training – Certification in tobacco prevention and cessation for healthcare providers, teachers, youth, elders, etc.
• Identifying strategies that will decrease commercial tobacco use among the Navajo people through community-based participatory research approaches.
-Navajo Air is Life Act of 2021 Petition
-Tribal Casinos Forum on KTNN: Reopening Smoke-free
Navajo Healers Digital Story Project (4 videos):
Additional Resources:
-The University of Arizona HealthCare Partnership
-Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights
NATO CAP
Networks Among Tribal Organizations for Clean Air Policies
Many jurisdictions prohibit smoking in workplaces and public spaces because of the clear threat to human health, and such prohibitions have been found to result in reduced tobacco use initiation and increased cessation. However, because of the sovereign status of federally-recognized American Indian tribes, state smoke-free laws are generally not implemented on tribal lands and enclosed environments on these tribal lands continue to allow smoking. On the Navajo Nation, there have been concerted efforts led by a Navajo coalition called Team Navajo' to eliminate secondhand smoke in workplaces and public places. Team Navajo has worked for four years within the Navajo legislative system for passage of a bill that would prohibit secondhand smoke in Navajo Nation. Though to no avail so far, these efforts are being watched closely as a test case with implications for tribal and other communities nationally and globally. We believe that changing policy regarding secondhand smoke on the Navajo Nation and other tribal communities can only come about through the development and effective implementation of coalitions and partners in a strong, broad and strategic network. This community-based participatory research began with a formative year of instrument development and team building between the researchers and Team Navajo members. Three waves of quantitative social network data in years 2-4 are gathered with ethnographic data to examine relationships and communication patterns that have the potential to be optimized for increasing policy change. In addition, contextual factors (e.g. local and state-specific policies, gaming industry efforts, etc.) were analyzed, including data from all 110 Chapter Houses (the Navajo equivalent of counties), in order to track and explain barriers to policy change and to evaluate progress. The data were analyzed with guidance from three different advisory groups, which included members of Team Navajo. Findings will be shared with members of Team Navajo and other tribal nations throughout the term of the grant to maximize the impact of the research.