Whereas the Canadian system of cannabis regulation has been imposed on Indigenous peoples and nations and on our shared territories without consultation, accommodation or our voluntary, informed consent – including on unceded and unsurrendered Indigenous lands in the city of Ottawa;
And whereas the Ottawa Police Service has been contacting Ottawa area landlords to cancel leases belonging to Indigenous Cannabis Trading Posts in violation of the constitutionally protected s. 25 and 35 Constitution Act, 1982 Aboriginal and treaty rights of their owners;
And whereas the actions of the Ottawa Police Service constitute unlawful discrimination contrary to the Ontario Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19 and Canadian Human Rights Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. H-6;
And whereas former National Chief Del Riley has written a dozen letters to the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service on behalf of Indigenous Cannabis Trading Posts explaining the Aboriginal and treaty rights involved and offering to meet with the Ottawa Police Service to discuss the constitutional matters at stake;
And Whereas there is a clear and present need for Indigenous rights holders to organize together to recognize and affirm our inherent sovereign rights to an economy and economic development in accordance with our various treaty agreements with each other such as the Two Row Wampum, Dish with One Spoon and the Great Peace of 1701, as well as through the Covenant Chain treaty relationship that many of us have with the British Crown (protected by Sections 25 & 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People;
And whereas the word “Ottawa” means “to trade” in the Algonquin language;
Be it resolved that we the undersigned hereby create a 1701 Treaty Trade Council so that all Indigenous Cannabis Trading Posts operating in Ottawa will protect our rights by creating a Council that jointly defends the s. 25 and 35 Constitution Act, 1982 Aboriginal and treaty collective rights exercised by individuals who are our constituent members, who will continue to govern ourselves.
Be it further resolved that the owners of the following Indigenous businesses are members of the Council and have the right to make decisions, attend all meetings, and participate in all affairs of the Council. All store owners will agree to implement the decisions made by the Council. Store owners may also choose elders or knowledge holders from their extended family/clan who shall act as their representatives and decision makers:
- Red Roots Trading Company
- My Legacy
- Native Smoke on the Water
- Mohawk Flower
- Native Grasslands
- Indigenous Cannabis Culture, Native Cannabis Depot, Indigenous Canna + Wellness, and Tribal
- Ronnie’s Smokes and Variety
Be it further resolved that all business and decisions made by this Council shall follow traditional Anishinaabe and Onkwehon:we decision-making protocol in keeping with the Two Row Wampum and the Dish with One Spoon agreement. Decisions shall be made by consensus of all parties.
Be it further resolved that our Council may grow and that decisions about making new additions to the Council will be decided at the meetings of the Council.
Be it further resolved that the first order of business for the Council shall be the issuance of a registration to each of the store owners which may be provided to landlords and Crown authorities to inform them of the constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights at stake and the existence of the Council as a lawful body responsible for advocating for, defending, and asserting the Indigenous right on traditional territory.
Be it further resolved that the Council shall meet at least monthly, either in person or online. Initial meetings and organizing of the Council shall be facilitated by Chief Del Riley and his team. The next in-person meeting of the Council will occur on May 14th, 2025.
Be it further resolved that the Council adopt the following set of standards as an interim health and safety standard for the Indigenous Cannabis Trading Posts represented by the Treaty Council (attached as Annex “A”).
Adopted by the unanimous agreement of the following signatories on April 2nd 2025:
- Former National Chief and Hereditary Crane Clan Chief Del Riley (Chippewa)
- AJ Tenasco, RED ROOTS TRADING COMPANY (Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation of Kitigan Zibi)
- Robert Fisher, MY LEGACY CANNABIS DISPENSARY (Mohawk of the Six Nations, Tyendinaga)
- Justus Wilcox, NATIVE SMOKE ON THE WATER (Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn)
- Tom Nicholson, NATIVE GRASSLANDS (Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn)
- Daryn DesGroseilliers, AKI WELLNESS (Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn)
- Gregory Guertin (Cree), Bryan Brant (Mohawk of the Six Nations, Tyendinaga), and Ronald Jr. Brazeau (Algonquin Anishinaabe) INDIGENOUS CANNABIS CULTURE, NATIVE CANNABIS DEPOT, INDIGENOUS CANNA + WELLNESS, and TRIBAL
- Shane Maracle and Karl Maracle (Mohawk of the Six Nations, Tyendinaga) and Michael Brooks (Mi’kmaq) MOHAWK FLOWER
- Aaron Maracle of RONNIE’S SMOKES AND VARIETY (Mohawk of the Six Nations, Tyendinaga)
Annex 1: 1701 Treaty Trade Council Health and Safety Standards
- General
- These community standards on the safe operation of cannabis dispensaries have been adopted by the members of the 1701 Treaty Trade Council to protect the health and safety of our customers.
- The Health and Safety standards document is a “living document” that may be altered through the decision-making process of the 1701 Treaty Trade Council at any of its meetings.
- Council members source their cannabis products exclusively through Nation-to-Nation trading with Indigenous partners in their own or other nations that are not connected to or affiliated with organized crime.
- Youth Protection
- Do not sell to those under 19 years of age.
- Request photo identification for proof of age from anyone appearing to be under 25 years of age.Do not
- market products to a youth market.
- Health and Safety
- All cannabis products sold by members of the 1701 Treaty Trade Council must prior to sale be;
- tested for its potency;
- visually inspected.
- any Cannabis product failing this testing and inspection shall not be sold.
- All cannabis products sold by members of the 1701 Treaty Trade Council must prior to sale be;
- Customer Information
- All retailers belonging to the 1701 Treaty Trade Council must prominently display a 1701 Treaty Trade Council sign in their Indigenous Cannabis Trading Post Indicating that they belong to the Council and follow its Health and Safety standards
- All Council members must hold their customer data in a secure location.
- Complaints
- Any and all complaints about the conduct of a member of the 1701 Treaty Trade Council may be made to the designated Ombudsperson who shall bring the matter to the attention of the Council for discussion and resolution.
- Labeling of product
- Wherever possible, cannabis products should be labeled as to how they were grown, such as Hydroponics, Indoor, Outdoor, or Organically.
- Security
- Indigenous Cannabis Trading Posts undertake to keep their premises safe, and to generally promote the safety of the community as a whole.
