- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has signed a historic Tribal-State Cannabis Compact with the State of Minnesota, marking a significant milestone in the state’s growing legal cannabis industry. The agreement, authorized under state statute, was signed on October 20 by Governor Tim Walz and Fond du Lac Band Chairman Bruce M. Savage. Facilitated by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management, the compact reflects the formal government-to-government relationship between the Band and the State, outlining a framework for cooperative and lawful cannabis regulation that prioritizes public health and safety.
The compact allows the Band to expand its cannabis operations beyond Tribal lands and participate in Minnesota’s regulated adult-use cannabis market. It is part of the state’s broader effort to establish formal agreements with Tribal Nations seeking to operate within the new cannabis industry. Through the agreement, the Band’s cannabis enterprise, ANANG Native Cannabis Co., will be integrated into Minnesota’s cannabis tracking system and will join the same supply and distribution networks as other licensed businesses.
“This compact is more than a regulatory agreement. It reflects our Tribal sovereignty, our values as Anishinaabe people, and our vision for economic self-determination. It also affirms the respect and responsibility that define government-to-government relationships, and reinforces our role as leaders in building a safe and inclusive cannabis marketplace for our community and beyond,” said Bruce M. Savage, Chairman of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
“Minnesota’s cannabis market is coming together as important partnerships fall into place, creating opportunities for mutual prosperity for Minnesotans and citizens of Tribal Nations,” said Eric Taubel, Executive Director of the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management. “The compact between the state and the Fond du Lac Band builds on our shared commitment to establish a safe and equitable cannabis market that consumers can trust.”
The Fond du Lac Band is now the fourth Tribal Nation in Minnesota to enter into a cannabis compact. The agreement follows the successful May 2025 launch of ANANG Native Cannabis Co., which opened its first dispensary at 1508 Big Lake Road in Cloquet and has since developed indoor and outdoor cultivation facilities.
Under the new compact, the Band will be authorized to open up to eight off-reservation retail cannabis locations, sell cannabis products statewide through licensed distributors and retailers, and participate in state-led compliance, testing, and inspection protocols. The Band will operate with the same privileges and responsibilities as other adult-use licensees, while maintaining its sovereign right to regulate cannabis independently.
The Fond du Lac Cannabis Regulatory Commission will oversee licensing and enforcement under the compact, ensuring standards meet or exceed those established by the state’s Office of Cannabis Management. All products entering the state market will be tested and required to meet Minnesota’s packaging and labeling laws. A tax-sharing agreement with the Minnesota Department of Revenue will ensure that revenues from off-reservation sales benefit both Tribal and state initiatives.
The compact is expected to create new employment opportunities across cultivation, manufacturing, retail, and regulatory sectors, generating long-term economic benefits for the Fond du Lac community. As one of the first Tribal Nations in Minnesota to formalize such an agreement, the Fond du Lac Band continues to set a precedent for how sovereign governments can lead in emerging industries.
This partnership underscores the Band’s ongoing commitment to responsible regulation, economic development, and Tribal sovereignty — advancing opportunity and leadership across Minnesota and the Great Lakes region.
To view the full compact and learn more about Tribal-State Cannabis Compacts in Minnesota, visit mn.gov/ocm/tribal-nation/compacts.jsp.
More Stories Like This
50 Years of Self-Determination: How a Landmark Act Empowered Tribal Sovereignty and Transformed Federal-Tribal RelationsChickasaw Hall of Fame Nominations Now Accepted
Navajo Nation Council Approves Historic Legislation to Strengthen Veterans’ Representation
Navajo Nation Council to Convene 2025 Fall Session Amid Budget Cuts and Calls for Accountability
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
