Just when you think that there isn’t anything else that can be blamed on Colonialism (which brought the wonders of civilisation to New Zealand like literacy, longer life expectancy, running water and electricity) we find out yet another example of colonial oppression…tobacco!
“We reserve the right to smoke for the young, the poor, the black and the stupid.” (Exec of RJ Reynolds Billion Dollar Tobacco Company, 1992).
Did you know the use of tobacco to produce cigarettes is a form of cultural appropriation that has, and continues to have devastating impacts on the lives of our wh?nau?
Tobacco is a sacred plant to many indigenous people of North & South America and it holds spiritual significance and has wellbeing-enhancing purposes in its appropriate use. In the colonial history of Aotearoa, tobacco was used as a tool of oppression and interrupted our traditional health, social and economic systems.
He aha o koutou whakaaro? Korero mai!
I wonder what “oppression” and “cultural appropriation” will next be blamed on New Zealand’s European colonial ancestors? Funny how it is a “sacred plant” right up to when it is mass-produced by non-Maori. If it is a tool of oppression what I really want to know is how the tobacco companies manage to ensure that their cigarettes racially profile the smokers and are only addictive to Maori.