Urban Aboriginal High School's Expressing Aboriginal Culture Class: "Asayma versus Tobacco Industry Products

Student artists took photos and created custom frames using traditional art styles. Then students gathered together with elders and other community leaders to share their art and spark conversation. There was a feast, drumming, dancing, and guest speakers shared their stories. Interested students pledged not to misuse tobacco and a youth leader started a group for anyone who wanted to quit smoking.

Below you can see the artwork and messages created by students:

Fire was gifted to the Anishnabek people from mother earth. This gift often located at the heart of gatherings, ceremonies, and is believed to be contained within each individual. These important gifts come with great responsibilities. Offering traditional tobacco to fire is a symbol of respect while commercial tobacco is impure polluting the fire with toxic chemicals. Tammy V. Eric N. Dan F.

Traditionally, tobacco was burned to connect people with the creator. When burned in this way the smoke is pure and is in sync with natural environment without causing harm. Commercial tobacco is not the same! During production, tobacco processing plants cause harm to the environment and when the tobacco is burned it intends to harm everything around it. Megan S. Devon H.

Indian Friendship Centre: Anishinaabe Ogimah's "Semma"

The Anishinabbe Ogimah group consisted of youth from the Akwe:go (7-12 years), After-School program (gr.8-12), Wasa-Nabin(13-18 years) and the Urban Aboriginal Healthy Living Program. The photos were displayed at a retreat in which youth gathered together with elders and other community leaders to spark discussions about important issues.

If you are interested in borrowing this resource, contact the Youth Engagement Coordinator at 705 942-4646 X 3043.

Thessalon First Nation PhotoVoice Project

Youth leaders met with adult supports to talk about tobacco prevention in their community and created this PhotoVoice project. Many of the young people taking leadership on this project smoked cigarettes regularly. They got addicted faster than they thought possible and wished they could quit., but have found it very difficult. They wanted to help future generations not start smoking.

Youth leaders took photos, made their own frames for the photos, and presented the final product to their community at National Addictions Awareness Week event!

Messages from youth leaders:

All these pictures should be of use to you and everyone around you because we see these things everywhere and every day in the environment. We need to change things so that everyone can enjoy good health.

Don't Smoke Around Athletes The arena and baseball park are some places to be athletic, not somewhere to smoke or have secondhand smoke around.
Don't Smoke Around Children People smoking around children in public parks should stop because it's not good for their or your lungs and it's not fair to the children to have secondhand smoke while being active and playing! There should be a ban in all parks across Canada.
Don't Smoke In Traditional Places People should definitely not be smoking around traditional people and using commercial cigarettes in a traditional place. Tobacco was given to us as a sacred gift from the Creator.  It is a medicine, but now it is commercialized and making us sick.  It is killing us.