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Wisdom and Influence of Elders: Possibilities for Health Promotion and Decreasing Tobacco Exposure in First Nations Communities

  • Qualitative Research
  • Published:
Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

This community-based project examined the interpersonal and system influences on smoking practices and exposure to cigarette smoke that place young pregnant and parenting First Nations women and their children at risk. The aim was to work with the community using this information to develop meaningful strategies to support tobacco reduction and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke.

Method

Ethnographic methods informed by decolonizing approaches were used to study smoking practices and exposure within the context of six First Nations rural reserve villages in the Gitxsan territory in North-Western British Columbia. Data were collected through individual interviews with key community members, individual and group interviews with women, men, youth and older people, including Elders, and participant observation.

Findings

Older people, including grandparents and Elders expressed great interest in being more involved in their communities, particularly with youth. Other community members, especially mothers, saw such older people as important in diminishing the tobacco exposure problem, with ideas for their involvement ranging from role modeling non-smoking or respectful smoking to teaching cultural traditions.

Conclusion

Elders in First Nations communities represent a culturally-relevant resource for health that is currently underused. Communities might draw upon their wisdom and influence to decrease tobacco exposure and promote community health in other ways. This offers a concrete, practical strategy in response to widespread calls for supporting the culture of Aboriginal people as part of health promotion.

Résumé

Objectif

Ce projet communautaire portait sur les influences interpersonnelles et systémiques qui exposent les jeunes femmes enceintes et les jeunes mères des Premières nations et leurs enfants au tabagisme et à la fumée de cigarette. Le but était d’utiliser ces informations en élaborant, avec la collaboration de la communauté, des stratégies concrètes pour réduire le tabagisme et l’exposition à la fumée secondaire.

Méthode

Nous avons employé des méthodes ethnographiques étayées par des approches de décolonisation pour étudier le tabagisme et l’exposition à la fumée de cigarette dans six villages situés dans des réserves rurales des Premières nations sur le territoire gitksan (Nord-Ouest de la Colombie-Britannique). Les données ont été recueillies au moyen d’entretiens individuels avec des membres influents des communautés, d’entretiens individuels et collectifs avec des femmes, des hommes, des jeunes et des personnes âgées (y compris des anciens) et par l’observation des participants.

Résultats

Les personnes âgées, dont les grands-parents et les anciens, étaient vivement intéressées à s’impliquer davantage dans leur communauté, particulièrement auprès des jeunes. Les autres résidents, surtout les mères, considéraient les personnes âgées comme étant importantes pour réduire le problème d’exposition au tabac et avaient des idées pour les impliquer (en étant des exemples de non-fumeurs pour les jeunes ou en leur enseignant le respect du tabac ou d’autres traditions culturelles).

Conclusion

Les anciens des communautés des Premières nations sont une ressource de santé culturellement significative encore sous-utilisée. Les communautés pourraient faire appel à leur sagesse et à leur influence pour réduire l’exposition au tabac et promouvoir la santé communautaire de diverses façons. Ce serait une stratégie concrète et pratique pour répondre aux appels généralisés en faveur de l’intégration de la culture des peuples autochtones dans la promotion de la santé.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, BC V6T 2B5, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Colleen Varcoe PhD, RN (Associate Professor)

  2. Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada

    Joan L. Bottorff PhD, RN, FCAHS (Professor)

  3. Research Coordinator, Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada

    Joanne Carey MA

  4. Community Health Nurse, Gitsegukla Health Programs and Services, Gitsegukla, BC, Canada

    Debbie Sullivan BSN, MN

  5. Community Health Representative, Gitsegukla Health Programs and Services, Gitsegukla, BC, Canada

    Wanda Williams

Authors
  1. Colleen Varcoe PhD, RN
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  2. Joan L. Bottorff PhD, RN, FCAHS
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  3. Joanne Carey MA
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  4. Debbie Sullivan BSN, MN
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  5. Wanda Williams
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Colleen Varcoe PhD, RN.

Additional information

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Varcoe, C., Bottorff, J.L., Carey, J. et al. Wisdom and Influence of Elders: Possibilities for Health Promotion and Decreasing Tobacco Exposure in First Nations Communities. Can J Public Health 101, 154–158 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404363

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404363

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