History

History of the 5th National Summit on Smokeless and Spit Tobacco

The first western states conference to focus entirely on smokeless tobacco issues, known as the Northern Plains Spit Tobacco Summit, was held in Billings, Montana in October, 2004. Wyoming Tobacco Use Prevention (WyTUP), a coalition of Wyoming citizens and organizations working to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco, was awarded a grant by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to conduct a multi-state training event that included Native Americans as integral partners.  The American Heart Association chapter in Cheyenne, Wyoming managed the grant, collaborating with state agencies, non-profit organizations and American Indian partners in South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.

One of the major goals of the first summit was to bring people in the western United States together to discuss and examine the state of spit tobacco use in that region.  A significant outcome of the grant award was the development of a strategic plan for reducing the already-high use rates in these states. The three states included in the grant award started the "Northern Plains Health Alliance" (this way it incorporated the reservations – not just the states). Native American partners were involved on the planning committee and their input and ideas were incorporated extensively into the first summit.  A gift exchange was held on the last day to honor the conference participants following tradition still observed in some tribes.

Another outcome of the Montana Summit was a commitment to continue this gathering on an annual basis, promoting the exchange of ideas for reducing use of smokeless tobacco in the mutual states. In addition, an effort was made to garner more national support and participation. The Second Annual Spit Tobacco Summit was held in Casper, Wyoming in October, 2005. The Summit in Wyoming was attended by representatives from more than 30 states, as well as from Canada and Africa. An eagle feather was donated at the Wyoming Summit by an artist from the Wind River Indian Reservation.  This feather has been passed down from summit-to-summit, providing an historical and symbolic link from program to program.

The Third Annual Spit Summit was held at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in October, 2006. As nationally-recognized researchers on spit tobacco, Mayo Clinic’s hosting it was a significant step forward for the summit in its efforts to raise awareness about smokeless tobacco.  With assistance from the Mayo Clinic, more national partnerships emerged and were established. The focus at this conference was on the state of scientific research (and lack thereof) on smokeless tobacco use and its effects. Participants attended from all over the US, representing well over 35 states, as well as provinces in Canada and India.

The Fourth National Summit on Smokeless and Spit Tobacco (note name change) was held March, 2008 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Attendance grew to over 400 participants.  At this summit the American Legacy Foundation served as the principle sponsor, demonstrating a deep commitment to education and advocacy of smokeless tobacco prevention and control.

History of the Eagle Feather

An eagle feather has come to symbolize the National Summit on Smokeless and Spit Tobacco.  The eagle feather rests in the center of a picture frame, bounded by the logos developed for each summit.  Originally, the framed feather was presented as a gift to the 2005 Spit Tobacco Summit held in Casper, Wyoming.  Glenda Trosper, a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe (and then a member of the summit planning committee) was also the tobacco prevention and control manager on the Wind River Reservation.  She collaborated with Ivan Posey, chairman of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, to have the artwork donated.  Close to the time of the 2005 summit, Glenda began working at the Eastern Shoshone Tribe Traditional Center, where the eagle feather came from.  She expressed a desire to have something associated with the summit that would inspire us to always include Native American cultural issues of tobacco on the agenda.  The summit planning committee expressed appreciation to Chairman Posey that the summit was recognized as an event worthy of this gift.  They agreed the feather and its frame should travel to future host sites to remind summit planners and participants of the original desire that Native American participation be a priority.  The feather is currently on display in the Office of Continuing Education and Extension at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, in room 345 of Dempsey Hall.