Indigenous leaders have gathered in Saskatoon to discuss the cannabis industry as a part of the Indiginclusion Conference.
The conference focuses on how Indigenous communities can work effectively with entrepreneurs and different levels of government to benefit from the emerging cannabis industry.
Leading the event as master of ceremonies is former Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations chief Alphonse Bird.
“We have to be aware, of the pros and cons of it, it’s going to be a big business for people,” says Bird.
Bird says that he is a proponent of cannabis and he sees its regulation as a method to combat issues of drug and alcohol abuse that plague First Nations communities.
“Cannabis has been stigmatized and its associated with the bad drugs, but I also see as well, alcohol as having done a hell of a lot more damage to our people,” says Bird.
Bird also notes that regulation of cannabis could help to eliminate arising issues surrounding fentanyl and other opioids in the province.
In regards to finances, Bird says that revenues from cannabis could benefit Indigenous communities in a significant way.
“I think First Nations, at the end of the day, if they get involved, their return on investment is big,” says Bird. “It’s like the new gaming. We’re able to provide some additional resources for all of our communities because of the revenue created by gaming.”
Different discussions at the event featured representatives from the provincial government, entrepreneurs, researchers, and doctors.
The two-day conference is being hosted by the Kawacatoose First Nation at the Saskatoon Inn and will conclude on Tuesday.
(PHOTO: Alphonse Bird addresses the Indiginclusion conference. Photo by Travis Radke.)