KANGIQTUGAAPIK/CLYDE RIVER
Smoking is a big problem in the territory, and getting bigger. While the rest of Canada is slowing down, the rate of Nunavummiut using tobacco is increasing.

Reena Tigullaraq, left, and Louisie Tassugat hang out outside a tent at Clyde River's smoking cessation camp held in June. - photo courtesy of Ilisaqsivik Society

"Our most recent data for Nunavut shows that 74 per cent of Nunavummiut age 15 and up are current tobacco users. And amongst our women who are pregnant, tobacco use is 78 per cent," said James Smith-Sparling, a clinical cessation educator with the Department of Health's tobacco reduction team.

"We definitely need to have effective, culturally-appropriate programming to encourage tobacco cessation."

Partnering with Health Canada, the Government of Nunavut is in the second year of a 10-community, two-year pilot project that includes a variety of programs aimed at reducing those numbers.

"There are on-the-land programs, sewing groups for pregnant women, and it's in the process of being implemented this fiscal year in Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, Baker Lake, Arviat, Chesterfield Inlet, Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Pangnirtung, and here in Iqaluit," Health Minister George Hickes told legislators in October.

Pregnant women and youth are the focus.

"For the youth we have code club, which is where the young people would do computer programming projects that would have tobacco cessation messaging in them to encourage them to be tobacco-free. As part of that, they receive tobacco cessation training," said Smith-Sparling, who notes there are a lot of children smoking.

Those clubs are located in Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet and Iqaluit.

Another program is a youth empowerment on-the-land camp. Youth go out on the land with trained facilitators and elders.

Each community chooses the program they feel will be most effective.

Clyde River opted for a land camp this past June. Archie Aipellee, who was the health committee vice president, coordinated the program, with various results. People who participated at the camp may not have quit yet, but they have definitely cut down.

"It was a four-day trip. It was supposed to be longer, but we ran into complications. When we were at our main camp the ice started drifting out on our path. We had to think fast and move to some other safe place," Aipellee told Nunavut News/North.

"In the morning we would have a daily meeting to gather all the facilitators, instructors and participants to plan the day. For instructors, we had one elder and one other instructor from the community."

Camp life involved traditional activities, such as fishing, hunting for seal and geese and collecting flowers for tea, with conversations about how cigarettes can affect people's lives.

Aipellee shared the notes he kept.

"During our meeting I mentioned I have nicotine gum available with me that I brought from the health centre and also I told them that I have a breathalyzer with me in case they want to use it," he wrote.

"The breathalyzer is for how big of air you can blow out and to see if your lungs are good enough and to see if you been smoking too long. Lots of people were interested to try it out. I talked to them about how much money you can save during one year if you quit smoking.

"For instance, if you quit smoking, you can buy a Ski-Doo or put more food on the table. I advised the instructors to cut down smoking or try and quit smoking. I also told them to talk to their participants about how smoking is bad for our health."

Aipellee wrote that on day two he noticed that "lots of participants have cut down."

On day three, participants held a non-smoking competition.

Aipellee noted it was pretty hard for some people, but fun.

"Some managed to cut down lots since we started this program. Our youth have cut down a lot."

But panic set in when the ice started to move.

"It was going to be dangerous," wrote Aipellee.

An emergency meeting was held, and some participants smoked.

After the move, the group held a "mini-feast."

"During our mini-feast we were talking about how smoking has affected our lives. It was brought up by an elder, but not just about smoking. Our elder was talking to us about alcohol, suicide, abuse, and smoking and drugs, how it all started up in the North. It was one of the hardest things I ever heard from an elder," wrote Aipellee.

Today, he says the camp did have an impact, and in Clyde River efforts continue to spread the word on how harmful tobacco is.

Aipellee says he hopes to start a group.

"There's lots of support from the Health Department and the Ilisaqsivik Society," he says.

Also, at each community health centre, there are aids available – patches, gum and medication – as well as staff willing to help out.

Smith-Sparling said the plan is to have all the results from the pilot ready for reporting by June 2017.

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