Tobacco smoking was an essential part of native American culture for milenia; how...

[Ross Webster]

...was it they were still? physically strong and fit, and many of them did not die of smoking or passive smoking?

 

[thezenwithin]

Tobacco was more natural back then (like foods) which means the body is more capable of processing its contents. It is still doing damage but heck half these people didn't live to nearly half the age that people live to today so there isn't enough time for it to develop probably