The Oglala Sioux Tribe is the first sovereign Tribal nation to completely prohibit electronic smoking devices on Tribal lands!
“We hope this new restriction encourages other Tribes to do the same, and that’s why I’m so proud of President Julian Bear Runner and the Tribal Council for passing this ordinance and understanding that this is important for our people,” said Terra Houska, Oglala Sioux and Health Educator for the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board.
“Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights and the ANR Foundation extends our sincere congratulations to the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council for protecting the health of Tribal members by passing an ordinance to prohibit all electronic smoking devices on the Pine Ridge Reservation,” said Cynthia Hallett, CEO and President. “Sovereign Tribal Nations are uniquely suited to take a leadership role by passing smokefree and aerosol-free protections on Tribal lands.”
As of July 1, 2019, 861 municipalities, 18 states, and two territories include electronic smoking devices as products that are prohibited from use in 100% smokefree environments. Electronic smoking devices can produce high levels of harmful ultra-fine particles that can damage the respiratory system. The secondhand emissions from these products can contain glycols, nicotine, volatile organic compounds, metals, and carcinogens.
If you are around somebody who is using e-cigarettes, you are breathing an aerosol of exhaled nicotine, ultra-fine particles, volatile organic compounds, and other toxins. E-cigarette vapor is a source of pollution and toxins being emitted into the environment. We do not know the long-term health effects of e-cigarette use, and although the industry marketing of the product implies that these products are harmless, the vapor that e-cigarettes emit is not purely water vapor and their use in workplaces and public places would be a great disservice to public health.
For more information: http://keepitsacred.itcmi.org/2019/10/oglala-sioux-ban-e-cigarettes-on-pine-ridge-reservation/
