Kitikmeot residents trained in tobacco reduction
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Taloyoak (Apr 02/01) - Wally Pauloosie sees too many young people smoking in his home community of Taloyoak.
Now he can do something about it.
Pauloosie, 18, was one of 14 people from five Kitikmeot communities who attended a tobacco cessation workshop in Cambridge Bay.
"I came to learn about cigarettes and how to stop smoking and how to teach other people to stop smoking," said Pauloosie during a feast held at the closing of the workshop.
The event was funded by Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Association and the Government of Nunavut.
Participants first became more familiar with tobacco reduction kits produced by Pauktuutit and then learned about how addictive smoking is, how to recover from tobacco use and how to help others who want to quit smoking.
Pauloosie said he planned to target the youth in Taloyoak with his new skills.
"I can teach little children who are nine, 10, 11 or 12. I can talk to them about how cigarettes are dangerous," said Pauloosie. "So many young people are smoking right now. They need to know cigarettes are bad for their health."
Growing in number
Similar training sessions have been held in Iqaluit, Inuvik and Labrador.
Catherine Carry, Pauktuutit's special projects coordinator, estimated that 70 people were now trained to help others in their communities quit smoking.
"Ninety per cent of the numbers trained are Inuit. We want Inuit to deliver the message themselves and to deliver the activities," said Carry.
Called Aniqsaattiarniq -- Breathing Easy -- the kits were designed with information relevant to Inuit. It's part of an effort that's beginning to show dividends.
"The awareness level is much higher now. Dozens and dozens of people are trying to quit in each community now," said Carry.
Spreading the word
Rahabi Kamookak, Gjoa Haven's community health representative, attended the recent conference in Cambridge Bay with three other residents from her hamlet. She said they planned to host a radio show when they returned, were planning a feast for community members who had successfully quit and were going to continue on with a support group started two months ago.
"All the people who are trying to quit get together at the Health Centre in the evenings," said Kamookak.
"We talk amongst ourselves and try to help each other," she said.
Support groups have proven to be extremely helpful to Nunavummiut who are trying to quit. The extra boost of help and empathy often gives people trying to stop smoking the determination to continue with their efforts.
One of Kamookak's co-trainees from Gjoa Haven, Noah Siutinnuaq, said he knew he was facing a challenge by attempting to reduce tobacco use, but he was going to do his part to help people understand the dangers of smoking.
"I want to help people who want to get healthy," said Siutinnuaq.
