The President of Navajo Nation declared that all smoking in enclosed areas within the reservation will be prohibited, which includes the four tribal casinos.
Jonathan Nez is the president of the largest Native American reservation in the United States. He signed the legislation Saturday.
Due to COVID-19 security measures, smoking inside four tribe casinos was temporarily prohibited. However, it is now permanently banned.
Nez released a statement saying that yesterday’s permanent enactment is a fundamental right in order to protect the right of our Navajo people to breath clean air’.
Tobacco use in the tribe’s private homes or for ceremonial purposes will still be allowed, as long as they don’t function as childcare centers, adult care centers, or as business offices, ABC News reported.
Jonathan Nez, President of Navajo Nation said that yesterday’s permanent enactment was a fundamental right to safeguard the right of our Navajo people to breath clean air.
On Saturday, Nez signed the ‘Niłch’ Éí Bee Ííná – Air is Life Act’ into law
It is illegal to smoke in any enclosed area of the reservation, including four casinos. Above, Fire Rock Navajo Casino
Some were also critical of the ban, which also prohibits use of commercially-smoking tobacco products. They argued that it would be harmful for those trying to quit smoking.
Navajos are not able to smoke anymore. Why is it included? Grove Michell posted the following tweet.
“Leaving aside electronic cigarettes, it is not fair to blame them for being biased. But a smoke-free policy that also includes tobacco products and other non-smoking substances? This act didn’t seem to have been given much thought by these folks. Was that what you were smoking? tweeted Marcello King.
Nez stated that the act was a monumental achievement’ and a bold step in the direction of healthy living for our Navajo people.
The bill was approved by tribal leaders in October and banned the sale of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, electronic cigarettes and any other commercial products.
Nez described the action as a’monumental accomplishment’ and a bold step forward in the direction of healthy living for our Navajo people.
Nez gave credit to the Air is Life coalition, which educated the public for 13 years about the dangers of secondhand tobacco smoke.
Nez signed the bill into law shortly before Sunday’s deadline.
Nez credited the Air is Life coalition for educating the public about the danger and risks of secondhand smoke for more than 13 years and said the ‘Niłch’ Éí Bee Ííná – Air is Life Act’ was the result of the coalition’s work.
Other attempts at banning smoking from the tribal’s indoor public spaces have failed.
This was an idea that the tribal council had supported in 2008. It was rejected by Joe Shirley, then President.
Shirley mentioned concerns about the impact of the ban on gambling revenue – just like critics Nez’s current ban. He didn’t vote for the bill over a decade.
Ben Shelly, the former president of Canada, also banned smoking from office buildings during his presidency but permitted smoking at casinos.
The act received broad public support. However, there are concerns about what the ban could mean for revenue at the tribal’s three casinos – Fire Rock in New Mexico, Flowing Water and Northern Edge, respectively, in Arizona and Twin Arrows, in Arizona.
Although the law has been widely supported by the public, there are still concerns about how the ban might affect revenue at the four tribal casinos – Fire Rock (pictured), Flowing Water, Northern Edge, New Mexico, and Twin Arrows, Arizona.