WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — An American Indian health group is pushing the Navajo Nation Council to ban tobacco use in public places on Navajo land.

The Black Hills Center for American Indian Health is backing a resolution that not only would prohibit smoking in public places, but also would ban chewing tobacco.

The group wants “a very comprehensive tobacco-free policy _ pow-pows, rodeos, government vehicles,” said Dr. Patricia Nez Henderson, Black Hills Center vice president. “We’re going aggressively against community tobacco use.”

The Navajo Nation Council, which meets quarterly, finished its winter session in late January.

KVOA