Tribes in North Dakota debate smoke-free gaming facilities

Thursday, January 9, 2014  

Tribal leaders in North Dakota are debating whether to ban smoking at their gaming facilities.

Voters in the state banned smoking in indoor workplaces but the law doesn't apply in Indian Country. So the Intertribal Tobacco Use Coalition is urging a ban on all reservations.

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation bans smoking on the main casino floor. The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians operates one smoke-free facility and has designated smoke-free areas at another.

“We’re starting to take these baby steps, and by next year, hopefully it’s one small step will lead to one giant step,” Turtle Mountain Chairman Richard McCloud told The state Legislature’s interim Health Services Committee, Forum News Service reported.

Get the Story:
Tribal leaders mull smoke-free N.D. casinos, but don’t bet on it (Forum News Service 1/9)
Working against tobacco (The Bismarck Tribune 1/9)