2023 Agenda
Thursday, November 2
Conference 8:30-5:30pm & ICIA Happy Hour Reception 5:30-7:30pm
Beverly Snow Conference Room - 2nd Floor @ Eaton DC
Friday, November 3
Networking breakfast + Panel Discussions 8:30am-12:30pm
Beverly Snow - 2ndFloor @ Eaton DC
Thursday, November 2nd
Programs will take place in the Beverly Snow Conference Center (2nd Floor), Eaton DC
8:30AM
Networking Breakfast
Powered by Curaleaf
9:30AM
Opening Remarks and Welcome
Mary Jane Oatman, Executive Director, Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) and Rob Pero, Founder and CEO, Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA))
10:00AM
Icebreaker Activity
10:30AM
Harnessing the Future in Hemp for Tribes to Serve the Growing Demand
Moderator: Hunter Buffington, Director, Agricultural Policy Solutions
Jacob Wamego, Executive Director, Prairie Band Ag. LLC
Jake Bergmann, CEO, Iconoclast
11:15AM
Policies to Support Tribal Community Development: From Environmental Standards, Marketing and I/P to Clinical Research - What are Established Cannabis Tribes Recommending?
Moderator: Samantha Skenandore, Attorney, Quarles & Brady LLP
Saydee Whitebird, CEO & Co-Founder, Whitebird Logistics
Jim Ickes, Zuber Lawler
12:00 PM
Lunch Buffet - Beverly Snow Conference Center
12:15PM
Media, Marketing and Branding in Cannabis: What does the Future hold and How Can Tribal Nations Lead with Public Health & Safety Standards?
Moderator: Rob Pero, Founder and CEO, Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA)
Dasheeda Dawson, Director, NY Office of Cannabis Management
Jordan Fallis, Native Care Cannabis
1:00PM
Ongoing Challenges with Cannabis Banking: How Can Indian Country Create New Approaches to Banking, Payments and Access to Capital?
Moderator: Fern Orie
Ross Sloan, SVP/Specialty Banking Officer, Dart Bank
John Barthel, Owner, Honest Cannabis
Rafi Aliya Crockett, Treasurer, Cannabis Regulators of Color
2:00PM
Keynote Address - Beverly Snow Conference Room:
Gary Farmer, Actor/ICIA Ambassador, Reservation Dogs, Resident Alien
Introduction by:
Mary Jane Oatman and Rob Pero, Co-Founders, Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association
2:30PM
Decolonizing Cannabis: Policies to Support Small Business and Regenerative Farming
Moderator: Matthew Schweich, Executive Director, Interim, Marijuana Policy Project
Alexander Oxendine, Cultivator, White Earth Tribe
Rita Montoya, JD, Principal, Company Filing Solutions
Mark Grignon, Hempstead Project Heart
3:30PM
The Growing Need for Research and Data for Informed Policy Making
Moderator: Mary Jane Oatman, Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association
Trentin Russell, Co-Founder, WhiteBird Logistics
James Adcock, National Account Executive- Emerging and Tribal Markets, Biotrack
4:30PM
Cannabis on Our Lands: Protecting Research and Intellectual Property in Cannabis?
Tanya Gibbs, Partner, Rosette LLP
Jana Simmons, Attorney, Ropers Majeski
Jess Gonzalez, Rudick Law Group
5:30PM
ICIA Reception - Beverly Snow Conference Room Foyer - 2nd Floor
After a full day of discussions, join ICIA for a networking reception. Enjoy complementary drink and light fare as you chat with tribal leaders and cannabis industry advocates. Stick around for a very special program straight from the catwalk featuring clothing and jewelry by indigenous designers!
ICIA Awards Presentations:
Business Ally of the Year
Individual Ally of the Year
Tribe/Organization of Year
Indigenous Hemp Fashion Show
Native fashion designer Darline Perkins has designed clothing worn by international models and others to high-level events. Now her business, Red Lightning Couture has begun to include designs made with Hemp fabric and fibers.
Friday, November 3rd
Friday sessions will take place in the Beverly Snow on the second floor at Eaton DC
8:30AM
Networking Breakfast
9:30AM
Opening Remarks
Mary Jane Oatman, Executive Director, Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) and Samantha Skenandore, Attorney, Quarles & Brady LLP
Sutton King, Co-founder and President of Urban Indigenous Collective
10:00AM
“Unscheduling” Cannabis: How Do We Ensure Congress Protects Tribal Lands and Communities?
Scheril Murray Powell, Board of Directors, JUSTUS Foundation
Leonika Charging, Attorney, Big Fire Law
11:00AM
Approaches to Safer Access and Youth Prevention
Roz McCarthy, Minorities 4 Medical Marijuana
Esther Ames, Consultant, White Earth Cannabis Commission
Jason Ortiz, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Last Prisoner Project
12:30PM
Closing Prayer