The Snuneymuxw First Nation is close to finishing a 13,000 square foot micro cannabis facility on Vancouver Island, which will support its retail cannabis brand, Coast Salish Cannabis, based in Nanaimo. This project received funding from the BC Indigenous Cannabis Business Fund, aimed at helping First Nations communities and Indigenous entrepreneurs enter the regulated cannabis market.
Once completed, the facility will enable the Snuneymuxw Nation to cultivate, produce, and distribute cannabis products, including edibles, through its own stores and across British Columbia and Canada. The funding from the program, administered by the New Relationship Trust (NRT), provides non-repayable contributions to eligible First Nations businesses. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate at least 51% Indigenous ownership, community engagement, and financial capacity to cover 25% to 60% of the project costs.
Ian Simpson, CEO of Petroglyph Development Group (PDG), the Nation’s wholly-owned corporation, stated, “Snuneymuxw Nation entered the cannabis sector to generate profits for our community, allowing us to provide dividends that support services for our members.” He noted that nearly 90% of employees at their retail outlets are members of the Nation, creating substantial local job opportunities.
Symposium emphasized that the NRT funding facilitated access to affordable capital, accelerating the project’s timeline. Jason Guild, operations manager for the facility, explained, “The funding allowed us to move forward and build our facility. It includes 200 square meters of canopy space for cannabis cultivation and an area dedicated to producing our own edibles. Once operational, we have plans to expand with four additional micro grow buildings on the same property.”
The facility is located adjacent to the Coast Salish Cannabis retail store on Snuneymuxw reserve land on MacMillan Rd in Nanaimo, while a second store is situated near the Departure Bay Ferry. The BC government has implemented Section 119 agreements with several First Nations, encouraging regulated cannabis operations. However, only a handful have progressed to development stages, including the Williams Lake First Nation’s Sugar Cane Cannabis production facility and Unity Cannabis retail outlet.
While Shxwhá:y Village near Chilliwack has announced the closure of its cannabis store, the production facility remains operational, highlighting the varied success of First Nations in the cannabis sector. The Snuneymuxw First Nation’s commitment to building a sustainable cannabis business demonstrates its efforts to empower the community through economic development and employment opportunities.
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