Six Nations Cannabis Commission welcomes executive director

A Haudenosaunee lawyer will be heading up the Six Nations Cannabis Commission.

Verna George, who hails from Six Nations, will be the first executive director of the SNCC, which was created two years ago to create and implement cannabis industry regulations on the territory.

“We are thrilled to welcome Verna George to lead the implementation of the regulated cannabis industry at Six Nations,” says SNCC Chair Nahnda Garlow. “There is such important work ahead and I am confident that Verna will carry out her duties with skill and authenticity as a Mohawk woman from our Territory. This project is truly an endeavour built by Haudenosaunee people, for the Haudenosaunee people. We look forward to introducing Verna to all Production and Retail Licence applicants in the coming weeks.”

George was born and raised in the Niagara Region, is the youngest of nine children and the is proud daughter of a Mohawk Institute Residential School survivor, an SNCC press release notes.

“The values she holds were instilled by her parents and older siblings, all of whom have inspired her and guided her path in life.

George is a long time resident of the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation in Southern Ontario, of which her husband and children are citizens.

She holds two degrees from Trent University – in Economic Development and Native Studies – and is a graduate of the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Law. She was called to the bar in 2007 and has been a member of the Law Society of Ontario since.

George articled for the Community Legal Clinic of Niagara South where she gained invaluable experience assisting low income and marginalized people in administrative matters and at tribunal hearings.  For almost a decade, Verna was the Director of Negotiations for the Chippewas of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation, where she oversaw all land claims and negotiation files, including the decommissioning of the former Camp Ipperwash, and return of the Ipperwash Provincial Park.

George was intimately involved in the negotiations that led to the Camp Ipperwash/Stoney Point Final Settlement Agreement.  She has extensive experience organizing community ratification votes and member consultations.  Her role also included working with all levels of government to ensure the First Nation’s principles and traditions were respected throughout what were often long and arduous processes.

Six Nations of the Grand River (SNGR) Elected Council created the Six Nations Cannabis Commission in 2019 to develop and implement a comprehensive cannabis regulatory regime aimed at ensuring the health and safety of community members.

The commission also seeks to ensure that cannabis businesses operating on the territory are contributing to the economic well-being of all Six Nations people.

The Six Nations Cannabis Control Law (SNCCL) came into effect on June 21, 2021.

The commission issues licences for both the production and retail sale of cannabis on the territory. The Cannabis Control Law has a number of safety requirements in place for the sale and production of cannabis on the territory.

The Six Nations Cannabis Control Law and Six Nations Cannabis Control Regulations can be found at www.sncannabis.com.

Related Posts