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Aboriginal medical students lead program to discourage improper tobacco use

Friday, Apr 11, 2008
The Canadian Press

Section: Western Regional General News
Byline: BY RENATO GANDIA

EDMONTON _ Aboriginal medical students at the University of Alberta are hoping to teach young natives about the proper use of tobacco in their culture.
Daniel McKennitt and his fellow students have already taken their project to three Edmonton schools.

Students from the medical school embarked on another anti-smoking education program for youths called Butt Out in the late 1990s.

But McKennitt says the Butt Out program failed to get the message across to elementary students, especially aboriginals.

McKennitt says he and his anti-smoking squad talked to Grades 1 to 6 students because aboriginals pick up smoking by the age of eight or nine.

He and his group have prepared a manual that includes not just the evils of smoking, but also the proper use of tobacco in the aboriginal culture.

"We want aboriginal students to make a conscious decision and effective decision on tobacco use," said McKennitt, a second-year medical student.

"We want them to use tobacco in ceremonies and a spiritual sense. We don't want them to use it recreationally because that's not what it was meant for."

McKennitt's leadership in fighting addiction was noticed by the non-profit Kaiser Foundation and on April 24 he will be honoured along with six others in an award ceremony in Calgary.

The award was established in 2006 and has been given to 14 people in seven categories.