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Morton, Minn. — The Lower Sioux Indian community celebrated the opening of their new hemp processing facility with a full day of hemp education and demonstrations.
This processing plant brings the tribe one step closer to what they call ‘Seed to Sovereignty,’ where the tribe creates its own supply chain: growing the hemp to be processed in the facility, where it will be made into structurally insulated panels, which will be made into houses.
There is a housing shortage on the reservation. Danny Desjarlais, project manager for industrial hemp construction projects, estimated the tribe needs around 200 new houses to fully address the issue.
Desjarlais and his building crew have built four new houses and retro-fit a fifth, but it’s not enough, he said on a recent episode of the Industrial Hemp Podcast.
The reservation in Southwestern Minnesota along the banks of the Minnesota river is less than three square miles. The Jackpot Casino is the main economic driver of the town, but industrial hemp offers a new path forward — and jobs that aren’t tied to the casino.
The day began with a ribbon cutting. The tribal council and the hemp building crew stood flanking a bale of hemp while the council president, Robert Larson, acknowledged the vision of Earl Pendleton, a community member who has been working to bring hemp to the reservation for over ten years.
“Earl brought this idea to us at council, explained to us the benefits. The dream was from seed to wall, to have healthier homes for our people,” Larson said.
He acknowledged Desjarlais and his building crew for their hard work and determination to make this dream a reality.
Pennsylvania hempcrete builder Cameron McIntosh spoke to a lively and engaged audience at the Lower Sioux Hemp Facility Opening, September 5, 2024.
Eric Hurlock, ehurlock@lancasterfarming.com
Then he cut a big ribbon with a comically large and seemingly dangerous pair of scissors. The crowd cheered and the day of hemp education began.
Over 200 people were in attendance, many from the Lower Sioux community, but also from across the state and around the country, including members of indigenous tribes from Minnesota and around the country.
What the people of the Lower Sioux are doing is an inspiration to other tribes who have similar issues in their communities around housing and jobs.
Desjarlais feels good that people find inspiration in his work, but his main hope for the hemp event at the facility was to bring in local white farmers who have the land and could use another crop in their rotation, especially if that crop pays better than corn or soy.
Because of the size limitations of the reservation, the tribe can only grow about 100 acres of hemp a year, Desjarlais said.
“And, you know, we’re looking to make a way bigger impact than that. You know, we need to build a lot more houses at a lot faster rate than our 100 acres can can provide,” he said.
The tribe advertised the event on the Linder Farm Radio Network, an agricultural radio news network that focuses on ag in Minnesota, and the network broadcast live from the hemp facility during the event, amplifying the message of industrial hemp in the North Star State.
”}]] The people of the Lower Sioux Indian Community are one step closer to achieving their dream of seed to sovereignty wit the opening of a hemp processing plant. Read More