Indigenous-Led Program Helps Communities Quit Commercial Tobacco Use Across Canada
The Canadian Cancer Society has launched Connect to Change, an eight-week Indigenous-led program designed to help Indigenous communities reduce or quit commercial tobacco use through culturally grounded activities and support. Indigenous peoples in Canada use commercial tobacco at significantly higher rates than non-Indigenous populations, with rates 1.7 to 2.4 times higher depending on the group. The program addresses a leading cause of preventable disease and death in Canada by combining physical activities, cultural practices, nicotine replacement therapy, and ongoing support services.
Connect to Change is an eight-week program developed through a partnership between the Canadian Cancer Society and several organizations to address high rates of commercial tobacco use in Indigenous communities across Canada. The program takes a holistic, culturally affirming approach by incorporating traditional activities such as harvesting medicines, berry picking, and beading alongside physical movement to help participants manage cravings and addiction. Participants receive six weeks of nicotine replacement therapy and follow a curriculum that progresses week-by-week, focusing on understanding addiction, taking control, and changing routines. The program is delivered by community facilitators and can be conducted on land or water, in person or online, with plans tailored to each community's specific needs. After completing the program, participants can access ongoing support through Talk Tobacco, a phone, chat, and text service available in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. Importantly, the program distinguishes between commercial tobacco use and traditional tobacco use like smudging, which participants may continue.
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Using cultural connection to quit smoking across the Prairies
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