Hey folks! The birds are singing, the sun is shining and it’s time for another blog post designed to bring you closer to the herb you love! In this blog we spend a lot of time discussing the many wonders of the cannabis plants and even some specific products that we think are worthy of extra attention. This time however, we’re going to begin highlighting cannabis brands that stand out from the pack for one reason or another. For the first installment, I wanted to focus on some cannabis brands that are indigenous owned. As a business that is itself owned and operated by indigenous peeps, we’ve got a special place in our hearts for these growers and brands. So, without further ado, lets take a look!
Sev7n
We’re going to start with a company that has the auspicious title of “First 100% Indigenous owned and operated cannabis producer to receive a Health Canada licence”. Which is a badge of honor they wear proudly. They are located on Cornwall Island, which is in Akwesasne Mohawk Territory. These people are big on not only making good weed, but also supporting their neighbors and friends. Portions of their proceeds go towards helping fund educational and athletic initiatives for indigenous youth as well as supporting aging members of their community. So, it’s one of those win-win scenarios where you can get good weed and good karma in one fell swoop! As a side note, the bang for buck on their vape products is off the chain. This is a company to seek out next time you’re looking to get decent weed without strangling the life out of your bank account.
All Nations
Next up, we’ve got All Nations hailing from BC. These folks are big on tradition and honoring their ancestors through growing methods that are both sustainable and respectful of the land that they grow in. Like the other indigenously owned brands we’ll talk about today, these guys support their community through local hiring practices and putting money back into the place they call home. Plus, their weed is craft certified and tasty as heck, we’ve carried a few of their strains and have been impressed with what we’ve tested. If you haven’t tried them out yet, I highly recommend you give them a shot.
Red Market Brands
Red Market Brands is an Ontario based indigenous owned cannabis brand that prioritizes keeping the spotlight on First Nations brands and businesses as much as possible. Founded by a former Regional Chief of Ontario, this brand is hyper focused on trying to establish a network of indigenous owned cannabis growers and retailers in order to promote the discussion of rights of First Nations groups in the cannabis industry. Which makes them good folks in our books. Much like other indigenous Canadian growers, they focus on traditional techniques that pay homage to their rich history.
And that’s a list of a few of the indigenous owned cannabis brands that are kicking around in Canada that are worth your attention. I’m going to give honorable mentions to Msiku, a company that was original founded and owned by the Mi’kmaq out in Nova Scotia. Originating from a desire to emphasize east coast indigenous growing techniques, ownership recently changed hands and it is now no longer owned by the Mi’kmaq. The new owners have expressed a desire to continue keeping the same quality practices that put Msiku on the map, so they’re still worth checking out.
There are a ton of other First Nation owned brands that are worth checking out, and more coming up in the world of cannabis everyday, with each of them bringing a bit of their history and culture into how they produce and present their offerings. Till next time folks!
