Two years ago the people of the Red Lake Nation began the journey of legal cannabis on their closed reservation located in Northern Minnesota. The Red Lake Nation with it’s unique lineage of Ojibwe people maintains it’s status as an independent nation that is federally recognized as an Indian tribe, yet possesses all the powers of a Sovereign Nation. With that being stated the legalization of cannabis was up to the tribe and the path was chosen by establishing NativeCare. NativeCare is a fully vertical cannabis business located on the reservation and operated by the people of the Red Lake. NativeCare is known for its superior quality product and creative marketing that separates it from the other tribal cannabis business within the state of Minnesota. Kari Taylor a long time California cannabis veteran and native Minnesotan was selected by the tribe to head up the cannabis business know as NativeCare and implement a vision for the future. Part of that vision was to join likeminded people in the state and develop unique opportunities and events highlighting not only cannabis but the Native Communities.
Modern Indigenous checks off these boxes as a native owned business with a specialized view on all things cannabis. The Modern Indigenous provides Native American dinners, workshops, food experiences, and education for tribal communities and allies. CEO of Native Care Kari Taylor invited the team of The Modern Indigenous to host a two evening dinner using plant medicine and native foods to create a truly wonderful feast for the people of the Red Lake. The team of The Modern Indigenous consist of Dana Thompson and Dawn Drouillard.
Danna is a descendant of the Sisseton-Wahpeton and Mdewakanton Dakota tribes and lifetime Minnesota native, Dana Thompson has worked for nearly a decade on the front lines of the food sovereignty movement. She has engaged extensively throughout tribal communities, promoting critical ways to improve food access and implementing strategies to do the most possible good as a social entrepreneur. Dawn, a Direct Descendant of the Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe, in partnership with Dana Thompson, launched The Modern Indigenous in 2024. TMI pushes the boundaries of pre-colonial ingredients and highlights Indigenous Foods in a fresh and modern way with an emphasis on health and wellness.
Minnesota currently only allows Native Tribes to deal in recreational cannabis sales and a supposive compact with the state and the tribes is set to be released giving the tribes a head start and sizable piece of the industry. A robust social equity program is set to be rolled out as well in the state of Minnesota giving more special groups a green light to participate in the legal cannabis market. According to industry officials, sales in 2021 were in the $40 million range.
The MJBizFactbook projected that medical cannabis sales in Minnesota could reach as much as $125 million by 2025. With overall cannabis sales projected to reach $1.5 billion by 2025 if the recreational legalization bill passes. Either way, Minnesota’s cannabis industry is in the position for dramatic growth and change and NativeCare is leading the way.
