Pasqua First Nation becomes major shareholder in medicinal cannabis company
Pasqua First Nation has become a major shareholder in Atlas Biotechnologies, an Edmonton-based medicinal cannabis company.
“With our investment, we’re part owner of the facility, and the manufacturing and the growing of the cannabis,” Chief Matthew T. Peigan of Pasqua First Nation said.
Pasqua First Nation (PFN) will also work with Atlas Biotechnologies on an Indigenous cannabis product line of topical creams, called Mino-Ahki— “Good Earth.”
“We basically isolated different compounds from the cannabis plant, and then we took different extracts from the traditional medicines that the First Nations people have used for hundreds of years, if not thousands of years, to be able to treat different ailments, and we basically combined those things,” said Sheldon Croome, CEO of Atlas Biotechnologies.
The creams will be used to treat muscle aches and pains, as well as acne and eczema.
“Some were sent out to our First Nation, [and] we distributed it to some of our elders for joint pains. And it worked quite well,” said Peigan.
The company aims to launch the topical creams in three to four months, and have them on shelves across Canada by the end of 2021 or early 2022.
“At the end of the day, we’re able to make some money that’s going to flow back into their community and help the people, not only the elders and the council, but really everyone who’s living within the community,” said Croome.
Going forward, Peigan said PFN will also look at long-term training plans to employ Indigenous people with the company, and potentially one day, opening an indoor growing facility in Saskatchewan.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.