New Song Fights Against Tobacco Industry

Topic: Indigenous Music

Friday, 7 August 2026, at 6:11 am

Sara's baby is crying. She can hear him, but she can't go to him yet. She must wash her hands first.

She needs to wash the nicotine off her hands.

Sara knows about the dangers of second- and third-hand smoke. It can stay on her clothes, skin, and hair.

Her mom is an Aboriginal health worker.

Sara and her mom, Michelle, are proud Gumbaynggirr women and health workers.

Sara couldn't resist smoking four weeks after giving birth.

After washing her hands, she changes her shirt and ties her hair back.

Now she can comfort her baby.

Sara feels bad that she couldn't go to her baby right away.

Sara helped with the 'Warraay Puthu/Bad Smoke' campaign.

She hasn't smoked since then.

Sara is glad she went through that hard time. It made her want to help other young Aboriginal mothers quit smoking.

Now, Sara works in the ReadyQuitSolid team in Coffs Harbour.

Sara is one of many young health workers teaching their communities about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine.

Last November, Sara and others created a song to inspire people to think about the tactics used to promote smoking and vaping.

Sara wants better outcomes for her community and the people she loves.

She feels surreal that the song was nominated for the National Indigenous Music Awards.

Sky Thomas is a proud Wiradjuri, Gunnai/Kurnai, and Yorta Yorta woman, also known as DJ Soju Gang.

Vaping helped Sky keep working and taking care of her family, but it was hard to quit.

Sky tried to quit many times, but she didn't have time to deal with the withdrawal symptoms.

When her work slowed down, Sky decided to try quitting again.

Around the same time, she was asked to collaborate on a song with the Tackling Indigenous Smoking workers.

Raglan Maddox leads the Yardhura Walani Tobacco Free Program at the Australian National University.

The choice to make a song was deliberate, says Dr. Maddox.

Last November, his team brought together artists and young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers.

They worked together to share stories, write lyrics, and film a music video.

Sky Thomas worked on the song with Remy Morris, a Masters of Public Health student.

Creating the song reminded Sky why she quit: it was urgent.

Sky and RIAH sing the chorus of 'Voices of Resistance'.

The line has been drawn.

In sacred sand, blood is dripping.

They won't take it anymore.

Not today, not today, not today.

More First Nations people are living smoke-free, but the life expectancy gap is not on track to be closed by 2031.

The rate of daily smoking for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults has declined by about 19 percent.

The rate of smoking during pregnancy has decreased since 2011.

Tobacco smoking is the most preventable cause of early death, responsible for one-third of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Nooky wants to see tobacco gone from Indigenous communities.

Corey Webster, also known as Nooky, is a proud Yuin and Thungutti man and ARIA-winning rapper.

They're playing with fire, and they'll get burned.

The voice of resistance is standing firm.

They paid us in rations, and we got smoke in our lungs.

Now we're smoking the system, and the tables have turned.

Nooky worked with health workers and leaders to write, record, and film the song 'Voices of Resistance'.

Tobacco and vaping were never meant to be in our communities, and the impacts have been devastating.

Smoking causes 37 percent of all First Nations deaths, rising to half of deaths for people aged 45 and over.

The Tobacco and Nicotine Industry's tactics are hard to see, but the damage to communities is not.

Sara Sinclair interviews ARIA Award winner Nooky.

Working with artists like Nooky was a validating experience for Sara.

Having these artists stand up alongside them gives their work legitimacy.

Sara is proud that the song has been nominated for Best New Talent at the 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards.

The nomination takes the song to the next level, alongside deadly artists like INKABEE and Zipporah.

Health workers, musicians, and ANU staff worked on the song 'Voices of Resistance'.

The National Coordinator for the Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program, Professor Tom Calma AO, talks about the relationship between nicotine and communities.

First Nations people are more than twice as likely as non-Indigenous people to smoke daily.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have carried the burden of tobacco-related harms for too long.

Professor Calma says the introduction of wage equality in 1968 was the beginning of the end of providing tobacco as part of the ration pack.

Now, part of his work is empowering communities to come up with messages to be free of tobacco.

Professor Calma thinks 'Voices of Resistance' is excellent for many reasons.

The song was developed by young people in collaboration with professional artists and videographers.

The lyrics are strong, and the message is powerful.

Professor Calma loves the song, especially the enthusiasm of the youth in workshopping the lyrics.

The nomination is a tremendous honor and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples exercising self-determination.

By sharing messages of hope, people can encourage family and friends to quit smoking or vaping.

When given information and support in a culturally safe environment, people will take action to kick the habit.

Remy Morris started smoking cigarettes when she was 15 and later shifted to vaping.

She quit multiple times, but her latest attempt came after a netball game.

Remy came home and could only taste blood.

She was coughing and had a metallic taste in her mouth.

The vape had control over her, but she quit and hasn't touched it since.

Quitting wasn't just about Remy's individual health.

Remy Morris works alongside other proud health workers.

For Remy, being healthy is connected to the health of her country.

Most vapes are disposable and harm the environment.

Littering and destruction harm Remy's people, and everything is interconnected.

Remy stays smoke and vape free for her country, family, and future.

She studies Public Health at the University of Canberra and works with the Yardhura Walani Tobacco Free Program.

Remy thinks the song is powerful and awesome that it's recognized and the message is being spread.

If you're thinking about quitting, support is available through local health services or the My QuitBuddy app.

Header image: undefined

See more ABC coverage in your search results

Related topics: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art

Australia

Coffs Harbour

Health Policy

Indigenous Music

Music

Public Health

Smoking