Tobacco company targets Aboriginal market
CBC
News
June 20, 2006
 A
Manitoba company that sells Tobacco for Ceremonial Use has
found a growing market among large corporations and government
departments.
Mother
Earth Tobacco, based on the Long Plain First Nation in Portage
la Prairie, Man., began selling Ceremonial Tobacco in the
fall of 2005.
The
company purchases certified organic tobacco in raw leaves,
then steams, cuts and dries it into pipe Tobacco.
Tannis
Bullard, one of the company's owners, says one of the appeals
of her product is that it's produced solely for the Ceremonial
market.
"Different
organizations in the city that have Ceremonies on a regular
basis are buying our product," she said.
"Most
people are very happy to see that finally there's something,
and there's so many places that are using Tobacco for Ceremonies."
Manitoba
Hydro has purchased the product for its Aboriginal programs,
as have two jails in the province.
"We
have interest from Saskatchewan in the justice system for
our product. There's a lot of Ceremonies that go on there,"
Bullard said.
Linda
Godin-Sorin, who works with the Native agency Ka Ni Kanichihk
in Winnipeg, says she likes getting her agency's Tobacco from
a small, Native-owned company, rather than a big international
corporation.
"Purchasing
Tobacco is something that we always do, so this Tobacco works
for us," she said.
A
major tobacconist in Winnipeg is also carrying Bullard's product.
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