Native Cigarettes Canada

Native Cigarettes Canada is steadfast in its commitment to uphold First Nations values and operates with integrity, respect and a strong sense of responsibility towards its community and customers. Its tobacco blend and smoke filter are expertly crafted to produce the bold, full flavour and smooth smoking experience of indigenous cigarettes.

The Significance of Traditional Tobacco Use Among Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Indigenous communities in Canada have the right to produce and sell tobacco products without paying federal and provincial taxes, which can often result in lower pricing than mainstream commercial brands that include these taxes in their pricing. In addition, the lower overhead costs of indigenous brands can also contribute to their pricing.

However, these untaxed cigarettes aren’t just sold on reserves; they can also be illegally resold off reserve for non-Aboriginal Canadians. In Tyendinaga First Nation, for example, W5 found line after line of roadside smoke shacks selling packs of home-made untaxed cigarettes for less than half the price of big brands. The founder of one of these indigenous-owned companies, Grand River Enterprises, was recently acquitted on charges related to trafficking contraband cigarettes in the US.

This type of smuggling can be dangerous for Aboriginal people, particularly youth. Young Indigenous children are involuntarily exposed to environmental tobacco smoke more frequently than other Canadians, and exposure is associated with increased rates of respiratory illnesses, ear infections, neurocognitive deficits and cancer. As more youth move to urban centres, these smuggling activities are likely to increase as well. In order to reduce harm and support healthy development, the government must limit the availability of low-cost contraband native cigarettes on and off reserves.