World Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) to improve awareness and care of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) around the world. The world COPD Day 2015 theme is "It’s Not Too Late."
In recognition of COPD Day the FNHA is pleased to announce the coming release of our "Smokestack Sandra" tobacco cessation podcast series that shares the personal journey of a respected northern First Nations leader as she commits to quitting commercial cigarettes.
The candid and humorous three-part podcast "Smokestack Sandra" tracks Sandra Teegee, Deputy Chief of Takla Lake First Nation over a series of weeks with personal stories and a number of guest speakers. The podcast is narrated by Indigenous filmmaker Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and features FNHA’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Evan Adams and Vancouver Coastal Health’s Addictions Specialist Lindsay MacDonald. There are also cameos from BC AFN Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson, FNHA’s Board of Directors Chair Lydia Hwitsum and a number of other northern First Nations Chiefs, Elders, and friends and family of Sandra Teegee.
"I went out of my comfort zone and it opened up other doors and reawakened my dreams. We can all do this. This journey has liberated me and taken me away from all the things that were hindering my potential," says Sandra, a smoker for 30 years. "I especially want people to know that they’re not alone on this journey to quit smoking."
The FNHA invited Sandra to record her quitting journey on an audio recorder and she soon realized the power of sharing with others her daily challenges and ‘a-ha’ moments. Sandra is a leader in health and wellness in the north and a dedicated advocate for First Nations peoples’ healing journeys. Surprisingly, Sandra’s quest to kick her nicotine habit to improve her health transformed into a profound voyage of self-discovery and personal growth – a journey she recommends to others who are using commercial tobacco.
Stay tuned for the formal debut of "Smokestack Sandra" next week beginning Nov. 24 for streaming and download on the FNHA website at www.fnha.ca/respectingtobacco and its premiere debut on Canada’s First Nations Radio show Journeys at 6 p.m. on Nov 24, 25 and 26 and airing again on December 7, 9 and 11.
Starting your quit journey? Remember!
- • Never Give Up – It generally takes at least three serious attempts at quitting before a person becomes a lifetime non-smoker, and for many people it can take six or more tries.
- • Weave personal support networks while you plan your quit journey.
- • Find information specifically for First Nations and Respecting Tobacco on our website here: www.fnha.ca/respectingtobacco
- • FNHA’s Tobacco Timeout Challenge is an opportunity to win $250 for a 24 hour quit. Find out more here: www.quitnow.ca/contest/tobaccotimeout
- • QuitNow is BC’s free tobacco quitting service. Visit Quitnow.ca or call them toll-free at (1-877-455-2233)
Find out more about COPD Day here: http://www.goldcopd.org/wcd-home.html