Business | Law | National

Former Sisseton Wahpeton chairman joins marijuana company






Robert Shepherd, the vice chairman of the Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association was among 12 tribal leaders who met with President Barack Obama in advance of the White House Tribal Nations Conference in December 2014. Photo from Facebook

Robert Shepherd, the former chairman of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate in South Dakota, has joined a company that describes itself as being in "cannabis management."

Shepherd is the Tribal Relations Officer for Monarch America. The company will be attending the first-ever Tribal Marijuana Conference tomorrow.

"Tribal nation leaders from all over the country are rapidly becoming aware of all the political, social, economic, and operational issues surrounding the potential legalization of commercial marijuana businesses on Native American land," Shepherd said in a press release. "Participating at this first ever Tribal Marijuana Conference will allow us to meet face-to-face with many groups that are preparing to enter the sector for the first time and to demonstrate Monarch America's dedication to building strong mutually beneficial partnerships within the industry."

Shepherd is the vice chair of the Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association and a former secretary of the National Congress of American Indians. He appears to be the first prominent Indian leader to enter an industry that is just getting off the ground.

"We have already been in very productive discussions with several Native American tribes from across the country with regard to applying Monarch's marijuana business expertise to their new potential projects," Eric Hagen, the CEO of Monarch America, said in the press release. "With the essential support of Former Chairman Shepherd as our Tribal Relations Officer, I am extremely optimistic that our marijuana business consulting team will become a leading partner to many of these Native American community development and empowerment projects in the near future."

Marijuana remains illegal under federal law. But new Department of Justice policy could open the door to tribes that want to legalize the drug.

Get the Story:
Indian Country looks to marijuana as new moneymaker (McClatchy Washington 2/26)

An Opinion:
Klint Cowan: Gavel to Gavel: Marijuana and tribes (The Oklahoma Journal Record 2/25)

Relevant Documents:
Department of Justice Policy Statement Regarding Marijuana Issues in Indian Country (October 2014)

Join the Conversation

Related Stories:
Opinion: Tribes get ready to discuss marijuana in Indian Country (2/25)
Bill for tribal marijuana agreements advancing in Washington (2/24)
Ray Cook: Indian Country should say yes to cultivation of hemp (2/23)
Menominee Nation leader wants to move quickly on marijuana (2/20)
Poarch Creeks bring up marijuana in Florida gaming deal talks (2/20)
Closed session at NCAI winter meeting to focus on marijuana (2/19)
Lummi Nation leader announces meeting to discuss marijuana (2/18)
Northern Cheyenne Tribe enters debate over legal marijuana (2/17)
Opinion: Vast opportunities for tribes and marijuana industry (2/16)
Evictions linked to Pinoleville Pomo Nation's marijuana project (2/13)
Washington bill authorizes tribal-state marijuana agreements (2/12)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation puts marijuana farm on temporary hold (2/11)
Brian Pierson: State law still matters as tribes pursue marijuana (2/11)
Harlan McKosato: Marijuana debate heats up in Indian Country (2/10)
Alfred Walking Bull: Move slowly on marijuana in Indian Country (2/9)
Red Lake Nation to hold community meetings on legal marijuana (2/9)
Chairman of Havasupai Tribe welcomes marijuana opportunity (2/5)
Company claims major interest in marijuana in Indian Country (2/3)
Quapaw Tribe interested in cultivating marijuana for medical uses (1/30)
Seneca Nation doesn't foresee taking action on legal marijuana (1/29)
First-ever conference to focus on marijuana in Indian Country (1/27)
Fort Peck Tribes moving towards full legalization of marijuana (1/27)
Fort Peck Tribes approve marijuana use for medicinal purposes (1/19)
MPR: Red Lake Nation takes a small step towards legal marijuana (1/16)
Red Lake Nation backs study on medicinal marijuana and hemp (1/15)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation to use marijuana revenue for programs (1/15)
Column: New Mexico should strike marijuana deals with tribes (1/13)
Native Sun News: Tribal members debate legalization of 'peji' (1/12)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation confirms deal for legal marijuana farm (1/9)
Speculation grows about tribal marijuana operation in California (1/8)
Company set to announce tribal marijuana operation in California (1/7)
Column: Legal marijuana could bring dramatic changes for tribes (1/5)
Editorial: Legal marijuana is the last thing Indian Country needs (12/24)
Some South Dakota tribes said to be interested in legal marijuana (12/22)
Editorial: Showing caution for marijuana sales in Indian Country (12/18)
Column: No rush on marijuana sales at Eastern Cherokee casino (12/17)
Opinion: DOJ marijuana policy in Indian Country raises questions (12/16) DOJ announces new policy affecting marijuana in Indian Country (12/11)