Skip to main content

Native Cigarettes

One of my previous blogs dated Feb 26, 2012 I wrote about contraband cigarettes.  Last night on TVO (a public broadcasting station) there was an interesting documentary on the subject. The narrator explains how tobacco has been here (North America) for centuries and it’s a gift from the creator.  A smoke shack owner on the Rez said selling cigarettes helped pay for her house and would rather work then be on welfare. Similar stories also came up in the documentary. One man said the RCMP gets involved because the Govt like any business doesn’t get a piece of the profits. 
Good example on how the Federal Government works: If a native is selling moccasins on the roadside the RCMP couldn’t give a shit, but if the native is selling cigarettes out comes the shotgun. 
Producing and delivering Native cigarettes is a dangerous game. The person risks their cartons of cigarettes being confiscated, heavy fines and later possible jail time if the fines are not paid.  There is no job security in the tobacco plants and the employees are aware of it, yet they keep on going. Why! Because it’s better then being unemployed and on welfare.  The irony of all this, the majority of the customers that buy Native cigarettes are Caucasian.
In Hamilton I know of one Native guy who lives outside of KMHC and sells cigarettes in the downtown area, recently he told me all his smokes were confiscated and received a $350.00 fine. I asked will that stop him from selling cigarettes again. He replied nope…I have bills to pay.  
Is it organized crime run by selected Natives!  Possibly it depends on your point of view.  I’ve heard stories of wealthy natives living on the reserve in their fancy homes and vehicles while down the road there’s a family struggling to make ends meet living in a shack. 
On a personal level I know smoking any kind of cigarettes is bad regardless if they come from Rothmans or the factory/warehouse on the Rez it’s unhealthy and causes lung cancer so I rarely smoke. Like so many other disputes ie: land claims, cutting down trees, Govt funding for rural reservations, The cigarette war will go on for a long time.



tk

Comments

Tony King said…
At the last tenant meeting a fellow tenant slipped up by mentioning he plants tobacco in the garden located outside the building. I'll bet KMHC will give him shit for it or there will be a general notice warning tenants what can be planted in the garden. *rolls eye* :P

Popular posts from this blog

Poor Working Environment

My unit is located near the KMHC office, along with a friendly wave or hello I see the junior staff going about their business in a cheerful manner with the exception of one employee.   You would think KMHC has a pleasant working environment but that is not the case.   March 2016 is when Urban Native Homes head office was forced to move from their former spacious location to the cramp basement level of KMHC.   There were approx. 8-10 staff members at the time.   Then the Urban Native Homes financial scandal broke out and soon after the current UNH acting director’s illicit past became public knowledge, everyone was worried will they have a job.  Fearful meetings going on in the community room, the rumor mill was in full rotation while I just stood back and observed the panic.   Check your search engine it states this building location is Urban Native Homes head office yet that is not correct.  There is no real head office, the organization has s...

Wigwamin Terrace

After many years I received a call for Toronto Native Housing offering a vacancy so I decided to explore my options by attending a viewing of what's available. But first I did a phone interview with acting project manager Paul Feitelberg. He said my personal and financial information checks out fine then we talked about the negative reference I got from Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services. I was asked for my side of the story and I also invited Paul to read this blog site to find out more who I am.  A few days later I called Paul for an update, I was complimented on my blog posts and he could see the love and compassion I have for the Native people on this blog site.  Due to the Hamilton cyber attack it was difficult for Paul get a reference from my current housing provider so with my assistance I helped him get in contact with their office. I received an excellent tenant reference from my housing provider. When I asked about OAHS he said he's going to ignore their negative re...

Koo Gaa Da Win Manitou

I hope one day we can truly say there is a haven where older natives who experienced homelessness can find a place to call home and have the resources available for the best quality of life in their golden years. Koo Ga Da Win Manitou Housing Complex has a long journey in order to reach that goal. Perhaps more funding is needed or better trained/experienced outreach workers who can relate to tenants concerns and health issues. Programs that would interest all tenants as a whole would be nice. Most important we tenants must try to get along with their neighbours. (as the good book says "Love thy neighbour") I've been here less then a year and I've observed alot, we have a diversity of tenants living in the building from different reservations and walks of life. Some have problems with alcohol, prescription drug addictions, physical disabilities and slight mental disabilities. The one thing we all have in common is our health concerns, from chronic back pain to deadly...