The Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation says there has been interest to grow and sell cannabis on their land.

Chief Rosanne Casimir says there are developers seeking applications to open retail cannabis stores and another seeking to open a cannabis production facility.

She says interest in cannabis from developers existed long before legalization.

“I recall eight, nine years ago, we had a request coming to our table for a potential grow-op right in the middle of our industrial subdivision. And that was before any discussions about cannabis becoming legalized,” Casimir says.

“To see how it has progressed and now it’s legalized, we had to be quite proactive so we have created a bylaw. We’ve been working with the City of Kamloops as well looking at some of their laws, I know that we’ve also coordinated with other First Nations in regards to their laws that they have coordinated and have in place as well.”

For retail cannabis particularly, Casimir couldn’t say exactly how many developers have shown interest. As for whether or not Tk’melups council is on board with cannabis retail or production applications, “it depends on location.”

“And also from a business aspect, I would say that’s something that I would be speaking and working with my council. As chief and council we are very much community-driven. It would be in the best interest of the collective to work with, and probably have a vote, from our membership as to what that could mean and what that could look like.”