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On Saturday January 17th, the Six Nations of the Grand River, Ohsweken, Ontario were the gracious hosts of a public seminar on the agricultural and entrepreneurial potentials of industrial hemp. This seminar, sponsored by the Six Nations Economic Development Commission, introduced a considerable assembly of Six Nations farmers, manufacturers and entrepreneurs, and the general public, to experts from the field. True to its purpose, this forum served to increase awareness of the Six Nations and surrounding community to emerging market opportunities for the many uses and applications of Industrial Hemp.
This seminar featured such renowned speakers as Dr. Earnest Small, Principal Research Scientist with the Research Branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and one of the world's leading authorities on the botany of hemp, and Gordon Scheifele, an agronomist and leading researcher on industrial hemp at the University of Guelph.
Dr. Small stressed the need for continued research and was quick to point out that realizing hemp's great potential depends greatly on developing a Canadian germplasm which incorporates the valuable genes of wild hemp varieties. Mr. Scheifele complemented Small's overview of the critical issues facing hemp in Canada by providing the farmers in attendance with a pragmatic and comprehensive survey of the challenges of cultivating and harvesting hemp commercially.
The potential of hemp to contribute positively to the socio-economic fabric of native communities across North America was a theme explored by Tom Cook, the day's third speaker, who traveled from the Lakota Nation in South Dakota to join the proceedings. He inspired the audience with the news that the Lakota nation will be exercising its sovereignty this spring when they plant an initial five acres with local stains of feral hemp.
The day was rounded off with David Marcus of Natural Hemphasis presenting a promising cost/benefit analysis of hemp cultivation in Ontario, and Meredith Cudney of Chautauqua Designs displaying a wide range of hemp fabrics and clothing. Doug MacPherson, of the Indian Agriculture Program of Ontario concluded the day's events with a strong show of support for this re-emerging crop, comparing it's potential to the meteoric rise in Ontario soybean production over the past two decades.
With a spirit of sharing and openness the Six Nations have moved yet another step closer to fulfilling their objective of fostering sustainable economic growth in their community and beyond.