Traditional Tobacco
Traditional tobacco has been used for spiritual and medicinal purposes by American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AI/ANs) for generations and is central to culture, spirituality and healing. This lifeway was prohibited until the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed in 1978 which led to increases in commercial tobacco use as a replacement for traditional tobacco. Due to cultural shifts, commercial tobacco use is a driver of health inequities among AI/AN populations.
Mainstream efforts to address AI/AN health disparities have been unsuccessful, but promising practices rooted in culture are emerging. It is important to consider health inequities in the context of historical trauma, genocide and assimilation efforts. Negative impacts from federal policies have led to a need for programs to address the symptoms of complex and compound trauma. Persistent challenges exist across tribal communities with inequities in health outcomes, poverty, underfunding of health care systems, strained tribal workforce capacity, emerging public health threats and resources that are not culturally appropriate.
About Us
AICAF’s National Traditional Tobacco website is a collection of Indigenous wisdom that educates and spreads awareness about the importance of keeping tobacco sacred.
It is our intention that this website serves as a gathering place for Indigenous folks seeking cultural information that can be passed on to future generations.
#KeepTobaccoSacred #ReclaimingSacredTobacco
Who We Are
AICAF is a 501(c)3 organization established in 2010 with a mission to eliminate the cancer burdens for American Indians and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people through prevention, early detection, treatment and survivor support. AICAF operates within the belief that Native communities have the wisdom and the solutions to address cancer inequities, but are often seeking organizational capacity, expert input and resources.
AICAF supports community-based interventions that engage community members, leaders, health care providers and others working toward effective cancer solutions. AICAF focuses on partnerships that increase capacity of tribal and urban communities to improve AI/AN health and reduce cancer burdens. As a result of this history, AICAF has become a trusted partner and resource to lead these efforts. At the American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF), we imagine a world where cancer is no longer the leading cause of death for Native people. Through hard work, culturally appropriate community-based programs, and policy change that affords Indigenous people access to the best prevention and treatment strategies, we see a day where Native communities are free of the burdens of cancer.
AICAF supports community-based interventions that engage community members, leaders, health care providers and others working toward effective cancer solutions. AICAF focuses on partnerships that increase capacity of tribal and urban communities to improve AI/AN health and reduce cancer burdens. As a result of this history, AICAF has become a trusted partner and resource to lead these efforts. At the American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF), we imagine a world where cancer is no longer the leading cause of death for Native people. Through hard work, culturally appropriate community-based programs, and policy change that affords Indigenous people access to the best prevention and treatment strategies, we see a day where Native communities are free of the burdens of cancer.
Traditional Tobacco
Wisdom Sharing
How does tobacco connect?
Address Information:
American Indian Cancer Foundation
2355 Fairview Ave. N. #317
St. Paul, MN 55113
Share Your Stories of Traditional
Tobacco With AICAF
We acknowledge and honor that traditional tobacco is a gift from Creator and many communities use it in a traditional way. We would love to hear your stories about traditional tobacco.