In the Lakota culture, there are cultural protocols surrounding give-aways. Plus, everyone likes free stuff! If you can get people to wear or share your branded “stuff” they can be walking advertisers. Consider giving away reusable items, like t-shirts, hats, baby bibs, cups, koozies, quit kits, balls, pencils, or even sunglasses. Or, if you’re trying to spread a universal message, like “no smoking area”, you might consider giving out signs.
Planning
- Identify and order an item, product, or sign to give-away.
- Determine if anyone is eligible or if they need to make a commitment or take a pledge to be eligible.
- Market and distribute!
Resources
Talk to a local printer about options or find a website with customizable give-a-ways, like 4imprint.com or vistaprint.com.
Hints
- Give-away items might get more use if you use a color scheme consistent with local schools or the tribe.
- Events like parades, Walk and Talks or contests are a prime time to give away items.
- Give-aways can be attached to a pledge or commitment, like giving a no smoking sign for pledging to make a smoke-free home rule, or a Quit Kit for people trying to quit smoking.
Čaŋlí Coalition Example
We like to use items and messages relevant to the recipient and community. One example is our Quit Kit items that fill a water bottle with a the message “I can do this!” We ask smokers, vapers, or chewers to fill out a “Quit for a Kit Plan” to receive a free Quit Kit.
Another is a children’s book we made to inspire local youth to talk to their relatives about quitting or their exposure to secondhand smoke. Listen to a book read by a Coalition member using Lakota words.
To include cultural lifeways, we…incorporate Lakota culture into the messaging, imagery, and even the items we give out. For example, we provide our community with free Cansasa, a sacred plant, so they can follow the cultural protocol when asking for a prayer or giving it as an honor.
