In tribal communities the women are largely responsible for the health of the family, and the importance of cannabis medicine is no different. Native women working in cannabis largely outnumber the men yet face many obstacles, both in industry discrimination and anti-cannabis fears within their own communities. The panel will share their success and challenges and will discuss how women can engage the hemp/cannabis industries by applying their natural skill sets.

Presenters:

Cristala Mussato-Allen L.M.T. (Caddo Nation) Executive Director Native Workplace Inc

Since 2000, Native Workplace has fostered tribal business development through contracts with tribes and Federal agencies. In 2015 NWP hosted the Tribal Hemp & Cannabis Summit and produced the first tribal tracks at a National Cannabis Conference. Their primary focus is on community education and feasibility studies. Projects launched in 2108 are the Tribal Hemp Marketplace and the Cannabis Herbalism Alliance. Cristala has been active in the cannabis movement since 2000 when she organized Million Marijuana Marches and legislative actions in Texas. As a licensed therapist and herbalist since 1990, she has treated over 30,000 people including decades of administering cannabis remedies. Cristala is a Caddo tribal member and a Native American Church member. She has a B.A. in Fine Arts from San Diego State University.

Tina Braithwaite: Tribal Chairwoman of the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe

Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe is the located in Benton, CA. Tina has been responsible for the management of the tribe’s cannabis business in which was formed under a Cannabis Regulatory body that meets and exceeds the California regulations. Tina is the Vice Chairwoman of the California Native American Cannabis Association (C-NACA), a tribal organization formed to assist Tribes to have a legal pathway in the California Cannabis marketplace. C-NACA crafted AB924, a legislative bill designed to assist tribes should they choose to participate in the California Hemp and Cannabis arena. C-NACA has been lobbying in Sacramento meeting with Industry, Stakeholders, and Politicians in hopes to gain support for the AB 924 bill..

Emma Snuggs: (Cherokee Nation) CA Legislative Liaison

Emma Snuggs is a tribal member of the Cherokee Nation, Deer Clan, Oklahoma Band. Emma is currently the Legislative Liaison for the California Cannabis Industry Association. She interacts with state departments, regulatory agencies, and operators on behalf of the association as the unified voice of the cannabis industry in California. Through the UCLA School of Law she has worked with tribes and Tribal communities throughout California. Her passion is in strengthening partnerships and helping develop opportunities for minority owned businesses in the cannabis industry. Emma studied Political Science at Sacramento City College and has a B.A and M.A from UCLA in American Indian Studies, a.b.t.

Lisa Sundberg: (Trinidad Rancheria) President/Owner Nations Business Link

Lisa is a member of the Trinidad Rancheria whose tribe is one of the seven in Humboldt County, the epicenter of the cannabis industry. She comes from a traditional medicine family which began her passion in the use of organic cannabis remedies. Her business as a visionary entrepreneur is to leverage tribal sovereignty in business sectors. She applies her success in the Indian gaming industry cash access sector to infrastructure development in banking and escrow services for the hemp and cannabis industries. Nations Business Link acts as an international broker of hemp seed and CBD, and is active in both in the local Humboldt cannabis world and the international hemp industry.