Last Summer, I traveled to Valley Center, California, the ancestorial land of the Kumeyaay and Payómkawichum (Luiseño) people, to speak at the Native American Hemp and Cannabis Conference. As a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and the Co-Founder and Owner of Aurum Labs and Aurum Hemp, I wanted to be a resource and share my experiences. However, this was my first time attending and I was unsure of exactly what to expect.

The legality of cannabis and hemp for sovereign nations is still an evolving legal landscape. My goal was to learn more about the issues facing Indian Country and meet others with a passion to reconnect with the cannabis plant. Then I met Mary Jane Oatman; a remarkably warm and strong indigenous woman and someone I immediately wanted to know better.

Mary Jane, a member of Idaho’s Nez Perce Tribe, is the Executive Director of the Indigenous Cannabis Coalition (ICANNC), the Editor/Publisher of Tribal Hemp and Cannabis Magazine and the host of THC Smoke Signals Podcast. Mary Jane is not only identifying issues around cannabis in Native nations, but is helping find solutions. She is inspiring Tribes to unify around cannabis and hemp and created platforms to share these stories.

Mary Jane and I developed an instant connection as we both see the industry as an opportunity for our fellow Native peoples to use their ancestorial knowledge of plant medicines as well as their agricultural expertise and help their communities thrive.

In the six months since we met, she has continued to become an even stronger force throughout the greater cannabis and hemp industry.  Mary Jane was recently featured in Marijuana Venture’s “11 Women to Watch” and this fall she spoke at the NCIA Midwest Cannabis Business Conference on the “Issues and Challenges Facing Indigenous Communities in Cannabis”

Interview Q & A:

Liz:  Mary Jane Oatman, thank you for taking the time to answer some of our questions. We think what you are doing is crucial to the success of our Native communities. Can you please introduce yourself, tell us a bit about your current projects, and let us know what called you to the work you are doing?

Mary Jane: I am an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe and also descend from the Delaware Nation and have been blessed with three beautiful children. I raise them on our ancestral homelands which became a reservation in Idaho in 1855. That is where we founded the Indigenous CANNabis Coalition (ICANNC) and launched THC Magazine, to come full circle as a family that has been greatly impacted by the war on plant medicine. My grandparents were both sent to prison in the early 80’s for growing marijuana on the reservation, in a time when the government was sending a zero-tolerance message to society. Despite the jurisdictional conflicts and complex case, my grandparents were fast-tracked to prison. My grandpa is non-Native and was sent to state prison. Because my grandmother is Nez Perce, she was sent to federal prison. My entire upbringing has been rooted in advocacy, education, and ambassadorship.

When tribes were omitted from the Farm Bill in 2014, I was frustrated and saddened to see strong enforcement for tribes looking to build economic development while non-native farms were popping up like crazy in the same region. I was fired up to see something collective happen for tribes in cannabis, so in 2019 I formed ICANNC to provide a grassroots organization that would provide more voice for protecting tribal sovereignty in cannabis.

Now that we have the magazine getting tribal hemp & cannabis more attention, we are shifting gears to solidify the organizational structure for greater transparency to our supporters. That includes creating additional committees to help with scholarship and internship opportunities as well as the community outreach and THC Town Hall Talks.

Liz: In your podcasts and in your publication, Tribal Hemp and Cannabis Magazine you tell the stories of Indigenous people in relation to cannabis and hemp.  Why is the Native voice so essential to this industry?

Mary Jane: We have seen so much devastation and destruction to our homelands since the European invasion. The cultural perspectives have differed vastly, and those distinct values that Indigenous cultures have include a “law of nature” concept. This law is far more powerful than any man-made laws, and include at the core a respect for the gifts provided by Mother Earth. But since 1492, insatiable greed, privilege, and wealth inequities have flanked our experiment in progress and left our Indigenous people struggling to find a fit in the mainstream corporate structures as it relates to resource exploitation.

When it comes to the cannabis industry, we are seeing the so-called “green rush” begin without thought, compassion, or reflection of people impacted by the war on drugs let alone the environmental impacts of this new agriculture on the landscape. In Northern California, the infamous Humboldt County, is home to many Indigenous communities that have seen first-hand the devastation of dirty cannabis farming. The water wars are real, and here, and will not get any better if everyone is trying to “get rich quick” in the cannabis green rush. Plus, we still have cleanup to do from the “gold rush” era that exploited resources and had long-term impacts on the lands. Plus, many of our Native cultures are sacred peace pipe communities, where strong kinship ties have remained connected to this law of nature, which includes smoke prayers and healing with plant medicine. So in this racial and social equity enlightenment for BIPoC communities, I really want to make sure that the Indigenous is not left out. Oftentimes, that omission is purposeful. Lawyers and lobbyists work to lock tribes out of state language in protest of tribal sovereignty for corporate gain. This is not happening on my watch. I live in Idaho, and sadly if I did what millions of others are doing in cannabis economic development across the nation, I would likely face a federal indictment just like my grandmother did. There should really be no clear conscience for anyone making big profits while people are still going to jail in places like Idaho. That money should be invested in liberating the medicine and the people- even if that means spending cannabis money outside of your state borders.

Liz:  What do you think are some of the most pressing cannabis and hemp issues that our Tribal leaders and communities are facing right now and what is being done to overcome them?

Mary Jane: One of the most pressing issues is access to accurate, authentic information from Indian Country subject matter experts in cannabis. They exist, but many are not at the large gatherings and conferences for Tribal cannabis because the price to gather is so high. On top of that, the other organizations hosting breakout sessions for cannabis are questionable. And because many tribes are so desperate to get started, they are not doing their due diligence in vetting the investment companies, contractors or agreements. We are far past the days of million-dollar gaming start-up investments, but those are the types of deals that are being sold to Indian Country by shiny shoes and pinstriped suits. Nobody is talking to them about scale, growth and retaining equity to their operations. There are tribal consultants working hand in hand with tribal communities, not selling SOP’s for millions of dollars. We are working on gathering the successful stories of tribes in cannabis to share with others seeking to learn more. It is also important to create more safe opportunities to gather, without the big price tag, free of the hype, to have some real dialogue. We must do this before any federal legalization occurs, to ensure that we have a collective voice advancing the protection of tribal sovereignty and looking out for our future generations. We do not want to be facing the same issue as the First Nation’s communities did in Canada, where the provincial governments, lawyers, and lobbyists made sure to deny the First Nation’s people opportunities to advance economic development in cannabis.

Liz: There’s been a lot of news recently about Tribal hemp and cannabis programs. Hemp Industry Daily recently covered cannabis and hemp tribal collaborations and Hemp Grower discussed the Native American Cannabis Alliance. What are your thoughts on these partnerships and can you tell us about the projects you’re working on with Indigenous Cannabis Coalition?

Mary Jane: I believe in economies of scale, especially in the hemp fiber cultivation area. Tribal communities, which retain 25% of the nation’s land tenure in federal trust status, are truly positioned to lead in domestic fiber production if they work together. Groups like the Native American Cannabis Alliance are crucial, but it is important to make sure to begin partnerships with the right organizations. The production supply chain, genetics, research and tribal build-out is important. I became involved with Native Health Matters, a 501(c)3 based in Oklahoma after attending a conference and learning more about the work to integrate the nation’s fiber tribes. I am also excited about workforce development and see additional partners that should be at the table, but because of the still existing negative stigma in many of our tribal communities- even for hemp fiber- they are not here yet. I am currently working on an oral history project with elders to create video of cannabis testimonials. Peer to peer. That includes our Tribal Colleges and Universities as well. We have a great partnership with Minority Cannabis Business Association and through their leadership have also developed a new relationship with Students for Sensible Drug Policy. This will allow us to focus on elevating the workforce development concept for the TCU systems as well as provide resources for an internship program to get young people working in science, technology, business, and policy development.

My biggest dream is to get funded to do a hemp and cannabis documentary. Full-scale production, touring farms, production facilities, and labs like Aurum Labs, and sharing the positive messages in a new educational platform.

Liz: I am excited to collaborate more and partner with Tribes to ensure their success and the appreciation of this plant medicine. What can Aurum Labs, a Native-owned testing lab, do to help accelerate success for Tribes?

Mary Jane: We were honored to partner with The Emerald Magazine in 2020 to build a list of Native-owned and operated cannabis companies. The list was not exclusive to dispensaries and included everything from fabric companies such as EnviroTextiles (Colorado-based) to testing companies owned and operated by tribes like Medicine Creek Analytics. The Puyallup Nation began their recreational retail cannabis business with a core focus on researching the efficacy of cannabis in partnership with the University of Washington. They also have a healing center, Qwibil, which integrates cannabis therapy. They also assessed the landscape to note that in the early years of Washington legalization, testing backlog and reliability was a problem. They do not even own their own cultivation. They are testing for the entire state market and stock state-licensed flower and products on their shelves. The Tribe became a front line of integrity for the entire market. This was critical during when some Washington State labs were being shut down due to falsifying results. I would love to see a quality, proven testing lab like Aurum Labs franchise into Indian Country by regions, or partner with another large agriculture tribe like the Winnebago or Cherokee Nation, to build capacity in the East coast hemp and cannabis markets. Also, being more visible. Companies like Aurum Labs need greater exposure to Indian Country. You don’t know what you don’t know. That was me in 2020. I had one testing lab listed in the 100+ Indigenous Cannabis Companies to support. You best believe when the next list comes out, Aurum Labs will be on it! Providing networking and collaboration opportunities across Indian Country in person and online is also a duty of ICANNC, to help accelerate access between Tribes and companies like yours.

Liz: Since you started the work you are doing with the magazine, the Coalition and the podcast, what achievement are you most proud of?

Mary Jane: I am still pinching myself about the magazine. The people who have contributed. The fact that we are on issue #8 or that my fourth magazine cover was on a billboard in New York City’s Time Square. It is all pretty surreal. This fall I was blessed to travel to 45^th Parallel Farm, the first Indigenous family to acquire a cultivation license for medical in Oregon in 2002. In 2016 they went recreational, and have been providing the state with some of the best medicine around. I have known about the farm and the family since 2017, way before I even had the idea to do any of this. So for me, I get a high on those kinds of cannabis celebrities, and do not quite understand the hype that is built up around the New Kid celebrities on the Block in cannabis and how much media attention those deals are getting. That is another reason for a grassroots magazine like THC. History has already proven that Indigenous communities do not get coverage in mainstream media. Heck, most of the nation still doesn’t know about the brutality by the government at Standing Rock. So, in order for us to tell our stories, we need our own dedicated media. THC T.V.? Who knows where this journey will lead, but for now I am working on integrating the 10,000 print copy magazine into digital format that is interactive so we can share it with the world. We also archive every issue in the Library of Congress, so that our unborn generations will see the seeds that we planted with their blood in mind and heart.

Liz: Lastly, do you have some advice for Native entrepreneurs who are looking to find opportunities for economic growth and build their community through cannabis and hemp?

Mary Jane: Find your niche and go with it. There are so many ways to get into cannabis and transition your existing skillset into a new venture. And it does not always include plant-touching. And things evolve so much in such a short time. When many states were legalizing cannabis, they were opposed to transportation language, drive-throughs and curb side pickup. Now, those are all norms in many states, which created a need for drivers and retail workers when cannabis was deemed essential during the lockdown. The need for medically trained cannabis dispensary workers has been there so that recreational facilities can address the real reasons that many patients seek alternatives. It is not about going to the dispensary to get high for everyone, so staff should be competent to answer terpene questions and know more about prescription drug interactions to address elder care. And don’t even get me started on cannabis tourism… I could go all day. I am so busy with all my work but have started developing cannabis “experiences” for a local tourism agency that is seeking ways to capture the market. It was fun. I was able to develop a tour of the local waterfalls that included a dispensary stop and a cultural excursion. There is a need for bachelor and bachelorette parties, corporate and executive private retreats, and building the infrastructure for safe experiences with cannabis consumption that protect the business and the community. It is non-existent in some places, so roll up your sleeves and a doobie and start planning your business journey in cannabis.

Liz: Thank you. We appreciate all the work you are doing.  Thank you for sharing your experiences and insight.  We look forward to working together and continuing to watch you effect change in Indian Country and beyond.

About Mary Jane Oatman:

Mary Jane, a member of Idaho’s Nez Perce Tribe, is passionate about the success of tribal cannabis and hemp initiatives. As the Executive Director of the Indigenous Cannabis Coalition and (ICANNC) and the Editor/Publisher of Tribal Hemp and Cannabis Magazine, it is her vision to “get people talking about the protection of tribal sovereignty, plant medicines and the reality that many of our tribal cultures have had a very robust relationship with plant medicine since time immemorial”.

About Aurum Labs:

Woman and Native-owned, Aurum Labs was one of the first cannabis and hemp labs in the nation. Aurum is an ISO 17025, USDA compliant, and state-certified cannabis and hemp testing laboratory located in Durango, Colorado. They provide fast, accurate and affordable results and offer a tailored customer experience, so your products get the attention they deserve.  Aurum Labs is a member of ICANNC and feels strongly about being a resource to help solve problems facing Native Nations surrounding hemp and cannabis testing and compliance.

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