Julietta Sorensen Kass was pleasantly surprised by the success of the tobacco seeds she planted in her northwest Calgary lawn. The abundant harvest exceeded her needs for performing Métis cultural ceremonies. To share her surplus, she generously offered the dried leaves for free through social media, receiving an enthusiastic response from interested individuals who reciprocated with gifts like bundles of cedar and sage.
As a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation, Sorensen Kass values tobacco as a sacred plant essential for ceremonies and prayer in Métis and First Nations communities. She views tobacco as the “gratitude plant” that symbolizes reciprocal relationships with nature, animals, and people. By offering tobacco, she feels a sense of balance in giving back to the environment.
Initially hesitant to share her tobacco publicly, Sorensen Kass eventually posted on social media after finding herself with an excess supply. One recipient, Debra Roulette, sought pure tobacco for prayer purposes, avoiding store-bought alternatives with added chemicals. In return for the ceremonial tobacco, Roulette gifted a batch of traditional fry bread, creating a meaningful exchange that resonated with both parties.
The demand for ceremonial tobacco is on the rise, with companies like Tobacco Seeds Canada witnessing a significant increase in sales annually since 2020. Factors contributing to this trend include escalating tobacco taxes, growing interest in gardening, and a limited local availability of tobacco for ceremonial and Indigenous uses. Sorensen Kass obtained her tobacco seeds from a nursery near Calgary, diligently researching cultivation techniques and legal regulations.
Under Canadian federal law, individuals without a license can grow up to 15 kilograms of raw leaf tobacco per year per adult in a household for personal use. Sorensen Kass faced minimal restrictions from local bylaws when cultivating tobacco in her urban setting, although she plans to enhance her lawn’s appearance in response to complaints received by Calgary bylaw services.
Looking ahead, Sorensen Kass intends to continue growing tobacco and sharing it with others after performing a smudging ceremony. She finds empowerment in cultivating indigenous plants alongside tobacco in her front yard, emphasizing the significance of nurturing natural elements in urban environments.
