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
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