Push for smoking ban at Eastern Band of Cherokee casinos

A change in the Cherokee Code could ban public indoor smoking at the two casinos owned and operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

US.- A change in the legislation intended to prohibit smoking in casinos has been presented to be debated during the June session of Tribal Council.

The proposal is to change the Cherokee Code and the text states, “This section prohibits smoking, non-tobacco, and electronic cigarettes in indoor spaces of all gaming establishments of the Eastern Band.”

If approved, public indoor smoking will be banned at both Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Valley River Casino in Murphy – both owned and operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).

There are several exclusions to the law including “the smoking or consumption of tobacco used for the purposes of traditional Cherokee cultural ceremonies” and that the new law “shall not preclude smoking in private guest rooms that are specifically designed and disclosed to guests as ‘smoking’ rooms”.

Lavita Hill, an EBCI tribal member and one of the legislation’s submitters, said: “By passing this ordinance change, Tribal Council will take an important step forward for the public health of our Cherokee people.”

And added:  “Smoke-free casinos have an easier time attracting employees, and those employees use fewer sick days.  Insurance premiums will likely drop, not only for casino employee health care costs, but for fire and liability insurance as well. 

Cleaning and maintenance costs will go down. Immediately, our Cherokee people will become healthier.  We will become healthier as a Tribe.”

Hill concluded, “We are not asking Tribal Council to do anything radical.  We are just asking them to keep things the way they are now. 

We want the decision about this to be made by our Cherokee tribal leaders, not by corporate casino people in Las Vegas.  We are a sovereign nation, and we should remember that.”