Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jul 2015
Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA)
Copyright: 2015 The Ukiah Daily Journal
Contact: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/feedback
Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/581
Author: Carole Brodsky

GROWING GREEN: PINOLEVILLE CANNABIS PROJECT TO SUPPORT TRIBAL 
INFRASTRUCTURE, COMMUNITY NONPROFITS

Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series of articles covering the 
establishment of one of the first tribal cannabis farming projects in 
the United States. The Pinoleville Pomo Nation is providing readers 
of The Ukiah Daily Journal with a first-hand, exclusive look at the 
people, the processes and the philosophical underpinnings of this 
groundbreaking medical cannabis project.

"How do we keep our county's economy running? How do we keep our real 
estate values up instead of collapsing? In two years, with the 
legalization of cannabis on the horizon, our economy could collapse. 
Our compliant, responsible cannabis farmers and wineries are carrying 
this community on their backs," says Mike Canales, chairman of the 
business board for the Pinoleville Pomo Nation. "This project is our 
way toward a solution for our county."

Over 130 years ago, a small group of Pomo Indians left Potter Valley 
in search of a better life. They purchased a 51-acre plot north of 
Ukiah, but conflicts with non-native citizens prompted relocation to 
another parcel between Ackerman Creek and Orr Springs Road.

Though the tribe had a home, their trials were not over. In 1966, 
shifting, contentious federal laws resulted in the termination of the 
Rancheria's tribal status. Federal recognition for the Pinoleville 
tribe and 17 other sovereign nations also denied tribal recognition 
was finally attained in 1983. It took another 21 years for the small, 
struggling community of 250 residents to approve a tribal 
constitution and begin the long work of economic development and 
community organization.

The phrase, "timing is everything" seems to apply perfectly to the 
tribe's decision to embark upon its cannabis cultivation and 
processing project - The Pinoleville Medical Cannabis Project.

By the time the tribe regained recognition, voices for sustainability 
and environmental accountability had risen to the forefront. In 2008, 
the Community Assessment of Renewable Energy and Sustainability at UC 
Berkeley embarked upon a multi-year case study with Pinoleville 
tribal members. The project resulted in the co-design of several 
beautiful, culturally inspired sustainable homes.

The study's authors concluded that the tribe's motivation was to 
"...share their culture and their way of life with natives and 
non-natives as an independent, self-sufficient community utilizing 
the latest technological, economic and political tools available to 
meet their needs and goals."

The years have borne out the UC study's conclusions. In 2013, the 
tribe installed a three-megawatt solar utility project, generating an 
estimated 5,000 megawatt hours of electricity.

Their spring 2015 reservation cleanup event generated a record 
collection of 2.41 tons of waste. Riparian restoration and 
maintenance on streams, creeks and upland habitat that include 
Ackerman Creek are supporting traditional cultural land uses, 
improving water quality, and enhancing salmonid and wildlife habitat, 
and the Pinoleville YouthBuild Program offers native and non-native 
young people opportunities to complete the work toward high school 
graduation, assistance with college entry and training in contracting 
and the building trades.

Canales states that the forward-thinking tack of the tribe combined 
with their stated goals of serving the larger community is the 
underpinning of the Pinoleville Medical Cannabis Project.

"This is about providing economic opportunities so the tribe can do 
the things that any government wants to do - provide housing, 
education and security for its people," says Canales.

"The project monies will not and cannot benefit individuals. Not one 
penny of our cannabis project can be distributed to tribal members, 
per the guidelines of the tribal ordinance," he emphasizes.

What the money will do is improve tribal lands and the health, 
education, and the lives of county residents and businesses directly 
and indirectly involved with the project.

"We have simple goals - like installing a sewer," smiles Canales. 
"It's a huge thing to have hot water and sidewalks. Right now, 
everyone is on septic. There's no street lighting. Initially, it was 
tough to tell tribal members that they wouldn't personally receive 
the cannabis project revenue, since so many tribes with casinos pay 
out large 'per-cap' checks. But we're just not doing that."

Tribal members have another goal for the cannabis project revenues. 
"Along with health, welfare and community education, we want to 
purchase back our tribal lands," Canales explains. "We are buying 
back our land by the spoonful. We want our people to live at no cost 
on their tribal lands until they die. These funds will also help to 
maintain our tribal cemeteries, which are very sacred to us," Canales 
continues.

But economic development doesn't end at the reservation borders, says 
Canales. "Fifteen percent of our gross profits will be disbursed to 
local non-profit organizations. We are discussing the structure of 
the formation of a community oversight board which will handle the 
disbursal of the funds, and we are asking any farmer that works with 
us to make the same commitment - whether it's through a donation to 
charity or possibly through a county taxation system, if there's 
interest in county involvement down the road," Canales notes.

"We just opened up our brand new, second Head Start school. With the 
cannabis funds, we'll be able to serve more kids and increase 
salaries for teachers, who make far less than $20 per hour. Teachers 
have so much responsibility. They perform a labor of love. They're on 
eight hours of high alert, caring for somebody else's children. Risks 
and responsibilities are very high. We lose teachers because they 
don't get paid enough, so this project will help us stabilize our 
educational work force," Canales continues.

He also envisions a health care facility housed on the reservation. 
"We need a full-service health center where tribal members can more 
easily access Indian health services, preventive care, dieticians, 
dentists and therapists."

Canales estimates that close to $900,000 has been spent on the 
cannabis project to date. "Nearly all the funds have been spent 
locally. If it can be purchased in this county, we're buying it here. 
When our soil arrived, we were told it was the biggest sale day that 
the soil deliverers have ever had."

A partial list of businesses the tribe has worked with include: Arrow 
Fence, Big Daddy's, Wyatt Irrigation, The Mutt Hutt, Crush 
Restaurant, Patrona, Hydro Pacific, Scott's Tank, Ace Hardware/Mendo 
Mill, Round Table Pizza, Hertz Equipment Rental, Friedman's and 
numerous motels and eateries.

"As we employ more people, we are circulating more money into the 
city and county economies. Our community is getting positively 
affected today - right now - by this project," says Canales.

"If you are a local business and want to work with us, please call. 
We're not playing favorites, and we want to spread our local dollars 
equally and fairly," Canales states.

Canales anticipates an uptick in employment when the processing and 
packaging departments begin transforming the plants into medicine. 
"The plants are growing, as we speak," he concludes, smiling.

Next: The Other "Green" Jobs  Cannabis employment opportunities 
abound at the Pinoleville cannabis project.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom