The First meeting of the Federally Recognized American Tribes and Indigenous Community Working Group will be on May 8, 2024, at 2:00 pm.
Public is invited. Register
The Director of the Natural Medicine Program has assembled members of the Federally Recognized American Tribes and Indigenous Community Working Group. The nine working group members are seven Tribal citizens and two Indigenous community members. The majority of the working group members are Colorado residents and the rest represent other regions across Indian Country. This multi-generational working group consists of academics, tribal leaders, members of the Native American Church, and traditional healers with knowledge of policy-making, public health, therapeutic models, and cultural perspectives.
Working Group
OVERVIEW
Established under the bill SB23-290 "Natural Medicine Regulation and Legalization", the Federally Recognized American Tribes and Indigenous Community Working Group is established for the purpose of engaging and creating a dialogue to identify issues related to the commercialization of natural medicine, natural medicine product, and natural medicine services for Tribal and Indigenous people, communities, cultures, and religions. The Community Working Group will study the items including but not limited to the following:
- Avoiding the misappropriation and exploitation of the Federally Recognized Tribes and Indigenous People, Communities, Cultures, and Religions.
- Avoiding the excessive commercialization of natural medicine, natural medicine product, and natural medicine services.
- Any conservation issues associated with the legalization and regulation of Natural Medicine or Natural Medicine Products, Including the potential for further depletion of Peyote due to Peyote being a source of Mescaline; And
- Best Practices and open communication to build trust and understanding between the federally recognized Tribes and Indigenous people and communities, the board, the division, the state licensing authority, and law enforcement agencies for the purpose of avoiding unnecessary burdens and criminalization of traditional, Tribal, and Indigenous uses of Natural Medicine
This Working Group is housed under the Natural Medicine Program at the Division of Professions and Occupations at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.
The following members have been selected and accepted the volunteer role.
Tom Allen - Arvada, Colorado - Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma, Northern Arapaho
Daniel Castro - Boulder, Colorado - Mestizo Kichwa from Ecuador
Sherrill Katsi Cook Barreiro - Akwesasne, New York - St. Regis Mohawk Tribe
Frank Dayish - Gallop, New Mexico - Navajo Nation (Diné)
Belinda P. Eriacho - Tempe, Arizona - Navajo Nation (Diné)
Dr. Santiago Ivan Guerra - Colorado Springs, Colorado - Coahuiltecan and Chicano
Terry G. Knight, Sr. - Towaoc, Colorado - Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
Marlena Robbins - Berkeley, California - Navajo Nation (Diné)
Councilman, Darwin Whiteman Jr. - Towaoc, Colorado - Ute Mountain Ute Tribe