We would like to provide the Six Nations community an update to the ongoing work of the Six Nations Cannabis Commission.

Revisions to the Six Nations Cannabis Control Law

The Commission has completed a total review of the Six Nations Cannabis Control Law and identified key policy recommendations that will guide the revisions to the Six Nations Cannabis Control Law. In particular, we have identified the areas that need to be harmonized with federal and provincial law — while also making sure the Six Nations Cannabis Control Law is an expression of community autonomy and self-government.

For example, the Six Nations Cannabis Law must uphold the same criminal prohibitions and health and safety standards, as federal and Ontario cannabis legislation.

At the same time, we heard community members say that the Cannabis Law has to make sense for the people of Six Nations. For example, if anyone is charged a fine for violating the Cannabis Law, those fines should come back to Six Nations and not be submitted to the federal or provincial governments. We are creating policies to make that possible.

We also heard community members say they want to have restorative justice options for those who have been previously charged under the Cannabis Act.

This would prevent our people from being pushed into Canada’s justice system for minor violations and instead require Six Nations membership to be accountable to the Six Nations community.

It would also make room for people to leave the illicit cannabis industry and join the legal industry. We are working with community stakeholders such as the Six Nations Police and the Six Nations Justice Department to create those opportunities.

Production Applications

We are pleased to report that we are on track to have the Applications for Cannabis Production ready for distribution on November 30, 2020.

Environmental Assessment

Six Nations members have said that any development in the community must protect our natural environment. That is why the Commission has examined the whole picture of Six Nations lands, our waterways, ceremonial spaces, schools, community spaces and habitats to determine where cannabis business can be safely built with the least amount of negative impact on our environment.

We are creating regulations that will require cannabis businesses to operate responsibly, minimizing things like light and sound pollution. We have also examined the risks posed by the increase of traffic that comes from industrial activity, issues surrounding odour from cannabis production and cross-pollination from cannabis production facilities so that Six Nations own cannabis industry doesn’t negatively impact residents’ homes or the livelihoods of our farmers.

Six Nations members have said they want all development on our territory to protect community spaces of value like burial grounds, medicine fields, or private family cemeteries.

For this reason, we have created an interactive map tool that will support the Commission in determining where cannabis businesses can safely operate, avoid contaminating our waters and protect the spaces that Six Nations people consider sacred. A screenshot of this tool is included in this update.

We are seeking community wisdom from Six Nations families and Haudenosaunee knowledge keepers on where those sacred spaces are that need protecting.

If you know of a location in need of protection and would like us to consider flagging it on our interactive mapping tool — we would like to hear from you. We are looking for information within the community such as (but not limited to) the location of:

• Burial grounds
• Areas used for growing crops and traditional medicines
• Important places for fishing and gathering diverse species
• ‘Seasonal rounds’ for when and where different species are harvested
• Important cultural and archaeological sites
• Travel and trade routes
• Spiritual areas
• Wildlife Trees
• Hunting/Trapping/Harvesting Areas
• Wildlife Corridors/Migration Routes
• Meeting Places
• Ceremonial Sites
• Schools and Healthcare Facilities
• Flood Risk Areas
• Campgrounds
• Monuments
• Art/Carvings
• Culturally Valued and Historical Areas

You can email info@sncannabis.ca for more information.