Traditional vs Commercial Tobacco from a Native Lens Webinar via Zoom
Commercial tobacco (e.g. cigarettes, snuff, snus), can contain more than 7,000 chemicals and is manufactured by companies to addict people to harmful products that cause death and disease. Traditional tobacco has been used in sacred ways by Native peoples for centuries. Join us for an informative discussion with Melissa Doud, Program Director, Wisconsin Native American Tobacco Network, on the difference between traditional tobacco (i.e. medicinal, sacred, ceremonial tobacco) versus commercial tobacco and the importance of tailoring commercial tobacco use prevention activities and language. You will also hear from Jennifer Folkenroth, the American Lung Association’s National Senior Director for Tobacco Programs about valuable new Lung Association resources to support Indigenous peoples looking to overcome their addiction to commercial tobacco products.
The event will begin at 2:00 PM (CST).
Featured Speaker
Melissa Doud
Program Director, Wisconsin Native American Tobacco Network
Melissa is a proud member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in northern Wisconsin. She is a 20-year Army Veteran and has been to various duty stations around the world to include a tour in Iraq.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in business management. Her work places include the United States Army, Chippewa Valley Bank, the LDF Business Development Corporation and Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC).
Melissa has been the Program Director for the Wisconsin Native American Tobacco Network (WNATN) at GLITC since November 2020 where the mission is to enhance the quality of life for all Native people. She successfully built a network of 7 active WNATN representatives from various Tribes in WI through her leadership and engagement. Along with representatives from each tribe, the collective group focuses on educating, informing, and providing the resources to the Native communities about Traditional Tobacco vs. Commercial Tobacco.
Melissa is very passionate about the work she is doing with the Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Control Program and has brought a new perspective through teaching and sharing vision through a Native lens.
She has five children, one grandson and a granddaughter on the way. She enjoys dancing at pow wows, practicing her culture, hunting, fishing, hiking, traveling, and sewing.
