For decades, tobacco companies have used romanticized images of American Indians and Alaska Natives to advertise their products. This has misappropriated indigenous culture and reinforced harmful stereotypes. Learn more :https://nativecigarettes.com/

While smoking rates among American Indians and Alaska Natives have decreased over the years, they remain higher than those of other racial/ethnic groups. Cigarette smoking remains a major contributor to the high incidence of chronic disease among AI/AN, including heart disease and lung cancer.

To combat the continuing impact of commercial tobacco on reservations, community members such as White Earth Nation member Sarah Boudreau are working to promote indigenous forms of tobacco that have less of a toxic effect. She has been growing an indigenous species of tobacco (Nicotiana rustica) since about eight years ago. It’s smaller than its lush-leafed commercial cousin (Nicotiana tabacum), but it produces more tobacco per plant and is more palatable for smoke inhalation, despite its somewhat pungent aroma.

The Taste of Tradition: Delving into the Flavor Profile of Native Cigarettes

Boudreau says she wants to encourage a return to ritual use of tobacco and to change community norms around its use. That could include limiting smoking in government buildings, which is already being done at her reservation in Minnesota. But it also could mean educating young people about traditional tobacco’s role in tribal ceremonies and helping older smokers to find healthier ways to use tobacco.

Native Cigarettes are made with premium quality tobacco that’s grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides, offering a purer, more enjoyable experience for smokers. The company also makes non-cigarette tobacco products.