The United Nations has come out with clear instructions to protect the remaining biodiversity, in order to survive. That biodiversity is in northern Minnesota, where the most biodiversity in the state continues to survive. That’s in forests, not tree plantations. In the north, there is a critical need for sustainable plans. Our tribes have opposed the clearcutting of northern forests, and the proposed Huber Oriented Strandboard plant, which would take 400,000 cords of wood annually from our forests (particularly surrounding Leech Lake). We see hemp as an answer to the needs of the building trades and as a way to protect the biodiversity of northern forests. We will both work to transform an industrial agriculture landscape which destroys water and biodiversity, and protect the unique biodiversity of our forests. Our work will supplant forest based building with hemp.

We see the clear need to protect our lands. In this work, we seek to continue to strengthen and expand our regional collaborations to protect the water with the White Earth Tribal Government, the Shell River Alliance and many water protectors.

Our primary objective for this goal is to transition from a hydrocarbon-dependent economy to a carbohydrate-centric model, emphasizing the remarkable potential of hemp in sequestering carbon. Hemp, with its ability to capture up to 10.65 tons of CO2 per acre annually, outperforms traditional carbon sequestration methods, such as pipelines. The rapid carbon sequestration rate of hemp, four times faster than trees, positions it as a key player in addressing environmental concerns.

To achieve this goal, we will focus on harnessing hemp's carbon sequestration capabilities, channeling the captured carbon into sustainable building practices like hempcrete. Additionally, we aim to explore innovative approaches to leverage carbon sequestration as a financial resource, thereby advancing our mission and expanding the scope of hemp production.

In the realm of textiles, our vision involves replacing fast fashion and reducing reliance on plastic in the materials economy. Hemp, deeply rooted in the word "canvas," offers a sustainable alternative. Through initiatives like hemp wool insulation, we aspire to establish hemp-based materials as indispensable components in construction. These materials, such as hempcrete, not only contribute to reduced carbon emissions but also pave the way for scalable and replicable solutions in our communities.

Collaboration is central to our strategy, and we are proud to ally with key partners such as Patagonia, the Indigenous Cannabis Coalition, the Lower Sioux Tribal Housing programs, New School for Social Research, Homeland Hempcrete, and the Lift Economy. Our joint efforts aim to propel research, innovation, and practical applications in the transition to a carbohydrate-based economy. 

This work is based on the model of the Mondragon Cooperatives in the Basque/ Euskadi territory in Spain. That’s the largest worker owned cooperative in the world. We believe that this model will be helpful to our work.  

Hemp, unlike marijuana is not a boutique crop. It is something which will need to be produced on millions of acres of land, and that is also part of a crop rotation. That means a lot of seeds, and not competition, but coordination. This expansive vision necessitates not merely a proliferation of seeds but a concerted effort in coordination rather than competition. To bolster our cooperative's pivotal role, we are actively enhancing coordination efforts. This strategic initiative involves assuming the responsibility for seed sovereignty and delving into research on value-added processing. By doing so, we aim to pave the way for farmers to assert ownership over their seeds. 

Our commitment to seed sovereignty and the value-added economy will be realized through extensive organizing efforts over the upcoming winter. Building upon the foundation we've established regionally and in the Dine Territory, we are set to expand our reach and impact. Key allies, including the University of Minnesota, Lift Economy, Turquoise Mountain Weavers, and the growing number of farmers aligning with our cooperative, will play pivotal roles in this endeavor.

Together, we are cultivating a future where hemp becomes a cornerstone crop, fostering sustainability, community prosperity, and empowering farmers within a cooperative framework.

One of the key strategies we have is the development of the fiber hemp economy, which not only bioremediates soil but sequesters carbon at the highest rate of any field crop. Over the three years, we have purchased 800 acres of land in this region, both to protect the watershed and village and to create an integrated crop rotation with hemp, beans, corn, and sunflowers. We intend to continue this work. 

Regionally, 85% of the land within the White Earth reservation is held by non-Native interests, two thirds of the farmland on the Sisseton reservation is leased or owned by non-Native farmers and the same statistics apply through the region. We see a hemp cooperative as a mechanism for land restoration and rebuilding an Indigenous farming and agricultural economy. We also see this as a way to build partnerships with non-Native farmers who are interested and committed to transitioning to reduced petroleum agriculture.