The new product is called Niota (pronounced NYE-Oh-tah).
WINNEBAGO, Nebraska – A new business started by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s economic development entity has launched its first hemp product, a smokable preroll made with CBD flower.
Winnebago Agriculture & Industry, a subsidiary of Ho-Chunk, Inc., recently started manufacturing the prerolls, which are a wrap of paper filled with premium ground hemp. There are no fillers or additives.
“More consumers are turning to hemp CBD to relax and ease discomfort. It’s in all types of mainstream products now,” said Aaron LaPointe, president of the subsidiary. “We have years of expertise in smokable products, so it made sense to enter the market with a preroll.”
The new product is called Niota (pronounced NYE-Oh-tah). Each preroll is handmade in Winnebago and sold online to adults age 21 and over in most states. Niota is also distributed by numerous partnering tribes, and contract manufactured under other brand names.
Ho-Chunk Farms and the Winnebago Tribe were among Nebraska’s first hemp producers in a 2019 state pilot program, after the 2018 U.S. farm bill legalized industrial hemp. That farm bill also authorized federally recognized tribes to develop their own regulatory plan for hemp production. The Winnebago Tribe has since gained USDA approval of its regulatory plan, and is currently developing its cultivation licensing for Tribal members and entities.
“We look forward to growing 10 or so different strains. It’s like the small batch, craft approach,” LaPointe said. “We can then diversity into more hemp-based products, and own the entire process from growing to manufacturing. It’s a versatile plant.”
Currently the hemp flower in Niota prerolls comes from a certified grower and is independently lab tested. Learn more at niotalife.com.
“We’re excited to enter a new market with a premium product, and in turn, advance Ho-Chunk, Inc.’s mission of creating jobs and economic opportunity for Tribal members,” LaPointe said.
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Carmen Davis - Founder, Publisher and Executive Editor
Mrs. Davis is the founder, publisher and executive editor of the only Native American wholly owned and operated national tribal business publication, Native Business Magazine, and the producer of the annual and nationally attended Native Business Summit.
Mrs. Davis is also president of Davis Strategy Group has over 23 years of service to Indian Country and as an entrepreneur she has successfully established, operated, managed and grown several businesses in multiple sectors. She is equal parts a strategic visionary and behind-the-scenes implementor, essential in guiding and overseeing every process of brand development, business expansion, nation-to-nation relationship building and more.
She was named in 2009 as one of the first recipients of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s, “40 Under 40” award which recognizes up and coming community and business leaders from across Indian Country.
