The Songhees First Nation opened the first of two cannabis retail stores in downtown Victoria on Friday.
Seed & Stone Songhees Edition at 901 Gordon St., a partnership with Chilliwack-based businessman Vikram Sachdeva, sells cannabis products and features a gallery-quality, cultural showcase of Indigenous art and cultural pieces to boost Indigenous tourism.
The Songhees Nation will open the second Seed & Stone in the Bay Centre later this summer.
The nation opened its first cannabis shop on April 20 at 1520 Admirals Rd. It’s called S + S, or Skʷati Sῤaƛ̓ǝŋ, which means Crazy Smoke in Lekwungen.
The work of Jessica Joseph, an Indigenous artist, features prominently in the Gordon Street location. Joseph’s passion is sharing knowledge of traditional medicines and storytelling through digital art.
“The Seed & Stone project has been a journey of learning,” said Joseph. “Building on the teaching of my grandparents, I have been honored to learn from knowledge keepers as I considered each plant and its relationship to our people. Our new cannabis venture is a growing business for our nation, I see it like a seed, fulfilling its potential.”
Joseph holds her welding ticket and is a participant in the Songhees Entrepreneur Skills Development program hosted by Songhees Development Corporation in partnership with the University of Victoria’s Peter B. Gustavson School of Business.
Chief Ron Sam said the cannabis businesses have the potential to generate important wealth and jobs for the Songhees. “We thank Mayor Lisa Helps, Victoria Council and the community for their confidence and support of our Nation’s desire to participate once again in the economies of our Lekwungen homelands as equals,” he said.
