Miccosukee Hemp Visions v4.20
A Field Report
by Rev. Houston R. Cypress, Otter Clan
Board of Directors
Love The Everglades Movement
by Rev. Houston R. Cypress, Otter Clan
Board of Directors
Love The Everglades Movement
On the recent 4/20 Everglades research trip, I was concerned with updating the organizational understanding and practice of indigenous solidarity of the Love The Everglades Movement. Our praxis.
I brought along my co-founder Jean Sarmiento, and a small group of friends who are also community leaders in the arts, such as Ray Orraca, multidisciplinary artist Franky Cruz, creative visionary and renaissance man DAZE of HIGHMERICA, artist Sofia de Cardenas, native plant landscaping leader Sunkeeper Environmental Solutions, and a heavyweight in creative literary publishing, so we could have a friendly discussion about the status of Miccosukee Hemp visioning.
We met up with TRISTAN TIGERTAIL, a gentleman from the community of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. Tristan played an important role in setting up the regulatory framework for the Tribe’s entry into Hemp Production.
I brought along my co-founder Jean Sarmiento, and a small group of friends who are also community leaders in the arts, such as Ray Orraca, multidisciplinary artist Franky Cruz, creative visionary and renaissance man DAZE of HIGHMERICA, artist Sofia de Cardenas, native plant landscaping leader Sunkeeper Environmental Solutions, and a heavyweight in creative literary publishing, so we could have a friendly discussion about the status of Miccosukee Hemp visioning.
We met up with TRISTAN TIGERTAIL, a gentleman from the community of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. Tristan played an important role in setting up the regulatory framework for the Tribe’s entry into Hemp Production.
It’s been almost a year since the USDA approved the Miccosukee Hemp Plan.
Click this link to read the Miccosukee Hemp Regulations:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/MiccosukeeTribeHempPlan.pdf
Click this link to read the Miccosukee Hemp Regulations:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/MiccosukeeTribeHempPlan.pdf
Our airboat took off at about a quarter to 4pm. Overcast, it’s been about a week that the rains have been returning to South Florida. Droplets here and there, but no rain at all that day, as grey as it was. The Dry Season is ending. Soon it will be a New Water Year. And the Indians will be celebrating special religious festivals to honor the Circle of Life. In spite of it all, there’s always reason to celebrate our relationships with Nature.
As we zigzagged across the wetland home of the Miccosukee people, we stopped and said hello to a straggler alligator, as most of them have been congregating in the canals to the west, according to Tristan, who was also our airboat driver. Jean reminded us of the challenges that high-water levels bring, and the ways that it negatively impacts tree island plant and animal life.
As we zigzagged across the wetland home of the Miccosukee people, we stopped and said hello to a straggler alligator, as most of them have been congregating in the canals to the west, according to Tristan, who was also our airboat driver. Jean reminded us of the challenges that high-water levels bring, and the ways that it negatively impacts tree island plant and animal life.
We cruised to a nearby Miccosukee village, and by 4:20pm, we were in-joying an eclectic gabfest about indigenous sovereignty, the economy of plant medicines, and yummy fruit snacks.
I don’t know what it is about the River of Grass, but when you’re out there, conversations inevitably turn to healing and medicine. The conversation opened up by speculating on the potential for hemp plants to improve water quality, and turned to evidence of hemp cultivation on land to improve soil quality. The focus zoomed in on the specific healing capacities of cannabinoids such as CBN and CBG as well as others.
I was impressed at this latest iteration of indigenous self-determination. As we talked about the various interpretations and expressions of Treatment as a State, we discussed how that term was interpreted by the Miccosukee Tribe to create exemplary environmental regulations pertaining to Water Quality and Phosphorus, Flows and Levels, and Nonpoint Source Pollution Management.
I don’t know what it is about the River of Grass, but when you’re out there, conversations inevitably turn to healing and medicine. The conversation opened up by speculating on the potential for hemp plants to improve water quality, and turned to evidence of hemp cultivation on land to improve soil quality. The focus zoomed in on the specific healing capacities of cannabinoids such as CBN and CBG as well as others.
I was impressed at this latest iteration of indigenous self-determination. As we talked about the various interpretations and expressions of Treatment as a State, we discussed how that term was interpreted by the Miccosukee Tribe to create exemplary environmental regulations pertaining to Water Quality and Phosphorus, Flows and Levels, and Nonpoint Source Pollution Management.
As we rounded out the Everglades airboat ride with a visit to the edge of the Big Cypress forest, I thought of Betty Osceola, the Panther Clan Grandmother and environmental educator. She always says that’s one of her favorite spots to visit by airboat: the transition zone between the River of Grass and the Big Cypress forest.
Betty Osceola recently announced her newest brand with a Facebook post: RedWoman CBD. Betty will sell her CBD products at the 2021 Motorcycle Swamp Rally this weekend in Ochopee.
Betty Osceola recently announced her newest brand with a Facebook post: RedWoman CBD. Betty will sell her CBD products at the 2021 Motorcycle Swamp Rally this weekend in Ochopee.
Betty explains, “RedWoman CBD will have a booth. We will be showing our CBD Flower along with CBD Delta 8 Flower and Delta 8 prefilled cartridge pens.” All of her products are lab-certified and she will provide a lab sheet with each purchase.
The 2021 Motorcycle Swamp Rally is an interesting choice to launch a CBD product line.
The 2021 Motorcycle Swamp Rally is an interesting choice to launch a CBD product line.
The venue for the event is the Trail Lakes Campground. The Shealy Family have been longtime supporters of Betty’s environmental advocacy efforts. As Gladesmen, they honor many generations of living in and caring for the Big Cypress forest and the Greater Everglades. They have offered use of the campground on many occasions to support the public who attends the spiritually-based direct actions that Betty has organized over the years. It’s a place that offers a variety of cabins, camping amenities, guide services, and intrigue, to all their visitors.
The Motorcycle Rally promises to be a rollicking good time with live musical performances by Cypress swamp musical legend RAIFORD STARKE, with footstomping good tunes by THIRD WHEEL, and SOUTHERN STAMPEDE.
Miccosukee family are keeping the legend of IONA'S FRY BREAD vibrant with their mouth-watering Indian Burgers. And make sure to take home some of that famous SKUNK APE HOT SAUCE available in 3 flavorsl
Cruise on over to the 2021 Motorcycle Swamp Rally this weekend. Saturday and Sunday, April 24 & 25, 11am to 6pm on both days.
The Motorcycle Rally promises to be a rollicking good time with live musical performances by Cypress swamp musical legend RAIFORD STARKE, with footstomping good tunes by THIRD WHEEL, and SOUTHERN STAMPEDE.
Miccosukee family are keeping the legend of IONA'S FRY BREAD vibrant with their mouth-watering Indian Burgers. And make sure to take home some of that famous SKUNK APE HOT SAUCE available in 3 flavorsl
Cruise on over to the 2021 Motorcycle Swamp Rally this weekend. Saturday and Sunday, April 24 & 25, 11am to 6pm on both days.
TRISTAN TIGERTAIL
As I reflect back on the 4/20 airboat ride with Tristan, I’m excited about the healing potential of the Greater Everglades. Soon it will be a site for cultivating hemp products that complement a healthy lifestyle through the Miccosukee Hemp project. Tristan embraced my friends and opened up about business, culture, and his dreams for the future of the Miccosukee community. Other community members, like Betty Osceola, have been manifesting their own CBD-infused dreams.
When it comes to environmental conservation, indigenous rights are everyone’s rights. When we support the Miccosukee position on Everglades matters, we are supporting the indigenous-led science that underlies meaningful Everglades Restoration efforts.
A healthy Everglades supports the Miccosukee cultural practices, and benefits everyone else through the many ecosystem services that it provides, including the refreshing of the aquifer where our drinking water is drawn from.
How fascinating that the next steps in Everglades conservation include supporting Hemp cultivation by an indigenous community!
When it comes to environmental conservation, indigenous rights are everyone’s rights. When we support the Miccosukee position on Everglades matters, we are supporting the indigenous-led science that underlies meaningful Everglades Restoration efforts.
A healthy Everglades supports the Miccosukee cultural practices, and benefits everyone else through the many ecosystem services that it provides, including the refreshing of the aquifer where our drinking water is drawn from.
How fascinating that the next steps in Everglades conservation include supporting Hemp cultivation by an indigenous community!
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