Mary Jane Oatman
Nez Perce/Delaware
Founder Indigenous Cannabis Coalition & THC Magazine + Executive Director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association
Mary Jane is a descendant of Chief Looking Glass of the Nez Perce Tribe of the Columbia River Plateau, wants to change the public perception of the indigenous population of the Americas and cannabis.
Originally from Kamiah, in north-central Idaho, she is launching a nonprofit company called the Indigenous Cannabis Coalition. One project is to develop an interactive map that shows all the Native American cannabis and hemp cultivators, processors, testing facilities, and dispensaries in the nation. This directory, which will include companies run by tribes as well as those run by tribal members, will encourage Native American-owned cannabis businesses to support one another and band together.
Mary Jane has been dedicated to reclaiming Indigenous cultures and restoring pre colonial economies in hemp and cannabis. She has worked for her tribe and other communities to advocate to state and federal agencies to protect tribal sovereignty and to ensure more effective government to government relationships are steered by building bridges between diverse stakeholders. In 2009, Oatman was the youngest member appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the National Advisory Council on Indian Education.
We speak with Mary Jane about a range of topics covering indigenous issues and cannabis as well as her international outlook for her work
Thankyou Mary Jane and we look forward to following up the conversation next year
