Hosted by the American Indian Cancer Foundation in observance of World No Tobacco Day
Tobacco has always held a sacred place in many Indigenous cultures, as a medicine, as prayer, and a connection to our ancestors. Our world will never be tobacco-free, and it shouldn’t be.
But what was once sacred has been distorted.
Commercial tobacco created, marketed, and profited from and has caused deep harm in our communities, contributing to addiction, disease, and ongoing health disparities. Keep Tobacco Sacred Day Is about reclaiming what was never meant to be lost.
Across Tribal Nations and urban Native communities, we are restoring the understanding that:
- Traditional tobacco is sacred, used with intention, prayer, and respect
- Commercial tobacco is harmful, addictive, and driven by industry profit
- Reclaiming our relationship with tobacco is an act of cultural strength, healing, and sovereignty
What This Day Looks Like Across the Nation:
- Educate: Share the truth about traditional vs. commercial tobacco
- Center Culture: Create space for teachings, storytelling, and ceremonies
- Promote Community Spaces: Promote smoke-free and vape-free environments
- Support Healing: Connect community members to culturally relevant cessation support
- Lead With Intention: Model respect for sacred tobacco
National Call to Action – On May 31, stand with us:
- Share your voices using #KeepTobaccoSacred
- Uplift teachings from your community
- Commit to reducing commercial tobacco harm
- Honor and protect tobacco as sacred medicine
- Let us stop confusing sacred medicine with corporate harm.
- Do not participate in erasure.
- Participate in preservation.
