Tobacco Ties: The Relationship of the Sacred to Research

Abstract

This article aspires to raise consciousness of the spiritual power of tobacco in a mod­ern context and the responsibility of using tobacco ties as a research methodology.An ambitious project to outline traditional ways of doing research became a humblingteaching in the necessity of honouring tobacco and the spirit connections when to­bacco is involved. We recount our journey in the project and what we learned aboutthe meaning of tobacco to various First Nations (primarily those in northeasternTurtle Island), about doing research with Indigenous Elders, and about Indigenousresearch methodology. We reflect on the relationships activated when tobacco is part ofa research methodology and share some of the teachings Elders shared with us aboutresearch, with a focus on their thoughts about tobacco offerings. It is not this work'sintention to prescribe a proper set of steps or a how-to manual for using tobacco insocial research. Rather, this article is an attempt to reflect on what it really means tohonour the spirit in Aboriginal research, particularly as it is embodied in tobacco.