Mother Earth Tobacco October 18, 2005

History

In March of 2005, after attending a family member’s funeral, our search began for organic tobacco seed.

The discovery was made that Certified Organic seeds were unavailable, but a group of forward-thinking Canadian farmers were coincidentally looking to distribute their “Certified Organic Tobacco” product.

What it looks like

Plant leaves and “Beneficials” like lady bugs;

(good bugs come as Nature’s pest controllers)

Benefits of organic farmingThere are also tremendous environmental benefits to producing and using certified organic tobacco.

Pesticide/chemical-free farming • reduces green house gas production• increases soil productivity• reduces direct exposure of farmers to toxic

chemicals• reduces toxic waste that flows in streams and

rivers• increases the natural presence of beneficials• moisture that is reabsorbed into the

atmosphere is cleaner

Caring for a bale of Tobacco

How it is stored

How it is Manufactured • Raw leaf is steamed• Raw leaf is cut• Dried• Packaged

Missions and goals are:• Provide First Nations People with 100% pure, authentic tobacco for ceremonial use• Provide First Nations People with an alternative to current tobacco• Increase economic growth in First Nations Communities• Distribute a product that is environment friendly• Support farmers who farm in environmentally responsible ways• Support local and small businesses

Contributors

• Mother Of Red Nations• Women’s Enterprise Centre• Janice Spence• Sharon Redsky• Vivian Courchene• Dakota Ojibway Community Futures Development Corporation• The Original Tobacco Company• Cidalia Remoaldo; Marcel Bérubé

Supporting Businesses• Long Plain First Nation • Arrowhead Development Corporation• All Nations Printing• TD First Nations • Advance Paper Box• Gerald Adams• Jim Stanley• All Star Alarms• Don Lindsay• NCI Corey Whitford• Grassroots News• Ranger Insurance

www.motherearthtobacco.com