FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION - The people of Fort William First Nation will decide what the future of legalized cannabis looks like in the community, but members, health care professionals, and leaders appear to agree that there are benefits that go beyond economic investments.
“Healing, the power of healing and hope,” said Tracey Onuliak, a medical cannabis counselor. “When we look at recovery in any aspect when it comes to living life to our fullest, we have to get back to nature and not using so many pharmaceuticals and artificial stimulants in order to feel better.”
Fort William First Nation held a second public meeting on Monday to discuss policies for cannabis industry in the community. The first meeting was held on Saturday.
Currently, people are not banned from using cannabis in the community, but there is a moratorium in place preventing any members from setting up industry.
What industry will look like is still up for discussion, said Fort William First Nation chief executive officer, Ken Ogima.
“Although Canada has legalized it, we have not determined as a community which direction we want to go with respect to the cannabis industry,” he said.
During a public meeting held Monday evening, members learned more about an investment proposal from the group Thunder Grow.
“The group that is here has been presenting to Fort William First Nation for several months,” Ogima said. “We have had multiple groups come to Fort William First Nation interested in partnering up. Thunder Grow is one of the proposals that we’ve viewed that makes sense for our community economically.”
Ogima said he could not get into the technical details of the proposal and that part of the meeting was closed off to media. Though Chief Peter Collins said the community is looking at medical marijuana.
“The recreational side of it is something we still have work we need to do,” he said. “We don’t want to flood the market in Fort William. We have to figure out how we get there. What we are talking about here is the medical side.”
There does appear to be strong support for Fort William First Nation getting involved in the cannabis industry.
“From a personal standpoint and professional standpoint, I see great opportunities for my community to benefit both economically and socially from the marijuana industry,” Ogima said.
Collins added the revenue stream could benefit community members through investments into programs, roads, sewers, or other infrastructure needs.
“Investment is important and future revenue generations from that will be important to our community,” he said.
There have been people who have expressed concerns about the community becoming involved in the cannabis industry, but Ogima believes it is something the First Nation is ready to move forward on.
“You are going to have some who are going to be on the other side of the fence, but for the most part from what I’ve been gauging, the community is ready for this,” he said.
And community members appear to agree.
“I think it could bring a lot of benefits and a lot of money to our community,” said Brooke Boucher. “It would bring more job opportunities.”
Whatever the cannabis industry may look like, Onuliak said she believes cannabis has a place in the community.
“I have seen many success stories from using medicinal cannabis,” she said. “I have seen the changes that have occurred over the last 30 years with various populations and the opiate crisis that we continue to struggle with in our city.
“Cannabis does have a place, especially medicinal cannabis in helping people in bringing elders together in healing, especially with the Aboriginal populations.”
