The Lower Sioux Indian Community has been leading the charge in Minnesota in building homes out of hemp. The tribe has its own facility that makes a home insulation material known as “hempcrete," which is safer and healthier than conventional materials.

Lower Sioux’s innovation has led it to host the 13th International Hemp Building Symposium this weekend. It’s the first time the conference has been held in the United States.

Danny Desjarlais, a member of the Lower Sioux Indian Community and the industrial hemp construction project manager for the tribe, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about the symposium and his work.