Preserving Native American Heritage Through Heirloom Seeds

By Jeni Hill
Foods Editor

I first heard the words “manifest destiny” in grade school. We were told of brave 19th century pioneers journeying westward in search of opportunities and land. But we didn’t learn at what or at whose cost. In his class document Manifest Destiny and Cultural Stereotypes, Dr. John Mohawk, a Seneca and professor of American Studies at SUNY Buffalo, describes the ideology of Manifest Destiny as believing one’s own race and ethnicity as superior and worthy of conquering those deemed “below.” Manifest destiny was pursued by committing genocidal acts against the Native American people in the quest to expand, a people they considered obstacles to their god-given purpose.

Manifest destiny continues, also in regards to food. On October 30th, the Dakota Resource Council organized “Rally for the Right,” advocating for the government to require companies to label foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMO’s). You can learn more about this rally that occurred in Fargo at (http://tiny.cc/rightrally). Efforts by local Native American communities also nurturing the growth and accessibility of non-genetically modified foods.

A recent article in the Inforum (http://tiny.cc/inforumcorn) described the White Earth Land Recovery Project’s efforts to preserve heirloom varieties of Native seeds that were shared with Fargo’s Native American Center for future growth. The prevalence of genetically modified crops threatens the nutritious, heirloom plants that have sustained the Native American people throughout history. Jamie Holding Eagle, coordinator of Little Gardens Everywhere, spoke of the Mandan corn priest who protected and passed down a sacred bundle of seeds to preserve plants that fed, healed, and sustained the tribe. Holding Eagle, related to the last corn priest, Scatter Corn, saved the last bundle and placed it in the State Historical Society of North Dakota’s care. Through Little Gardens Everywhere, Holding Eagle works to increase access to locally grown, organic, non-genetically modified foods in the Fargo-Moorhead community. Early efforts by the Three Affiliated Tribes to preserve genetic diversity and heritage are gaining momentum.

Dr. Twyla Baker-Demaray, President of Northstar Council, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering and strengthening the Native American community of Grand Forks, is involved with Seed Savers Exchange. Seed Savers also acts to preserve and share heirloom seeds. Northstar Council encourages the growth of these precious seeds significant to many tribes, in traditional, backyard gardens.

Baker-Demaray and Holding Eagle, both of whom have family living at the Fort Berthold reservation, cite the Garrison Dam that devastated Fort Berthold’s fertile farmland in the early 1950’s. According to an extensive feature written by Lisa Jones and published in the High Country News on March 15, 2011 (http://tiny.cc/HCNJones) the Missouri river overflowed in the early 1940’s, annoying Col. Lewis Pick of the Army Corps Engineers, so a dam was built to control the Missouri River. The dam created Lake Sakakawea and destroyed Missouri River bottom land (some of the richest in existence, adds Baker) the tribes had occupied and farmed for centuries, flooding out homes, businesses, and community centers. Fort Berthold tribal leaders were forced to relocate to less fertile land for a payment that would never compensate for what was lost.

Baker-Demaray mentions the flood has impacted the community deeply, including its physical health. While their land was flooded, many Fort Berthold residents relied on unhealthy sugary, fatty, and starchy foods provided by the government, to survive. Native American communities, in general, experience higher levels of chronic disease such as diabetes and high blood pressure as a result of losing access to healthy and traditional foodways and poverty.

Currently, the frenzied oil rush in Western North Dakota threatens the traditional food ways of hunting. Baker mentions oil activity is stressing game populations, making it more difficult for families to collect food for the winter. Oil activity is also stressing Fort Berthold’s infrastructure such as law enforcement, hospitals and creating housing crises.  Baker-Demaray hopes the increasing momentum to preserve Native food ways and grow heirloom seeds will both lead to better health and preserve cultural heritage.

Read Holding Eagle’s blog at http://tiny.cc/medicineseed and visit the Little Garden Everywhere Facebook page at http://tiny.cc/littlegarden. Learn more about the Northstar Council on their Facebook page at http://tiny.cc/NorthStarCouncil. Visit Fargo’s Native American Project, which recently moved to 109 9th Street South in Fargo.

Prairie Rose Seminole, Project Coordinator for the Fargo Native American Center, shares this recipe for Hominy Stew, adding some prefer to use sweet corn instead of hominy, while some use a combination of both.

Hominy Stew
Ingredients:
3 pounds ground or cubed beef, or chicken
2 large onions, diced
2 tablespoons chili powder
6 potatoes, diced
1 pound carrots, diced
3 cups white hominy from can or prepared
3 (8 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes with liquid, chopped
4 chopped green chilies, with juice
3 cups water or vegetable or meat broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

In a large pot over medium heat, cook ground beef until evenly brown. Stir in onions, and sauté until soft and translucent. Season with chili powder, and cook for about 2 minutes. Add potatoes, carrots, hominy, tomatoes and chilies. Pour in beef broth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Reduce heat, and simmer 2 hours, or until potatoes and carrots are tender.

Jeni’s Notes: You may want to add less salt depending on the saltiness of your broth.  I used a tougher cut of beef appropriate for long stewing.

Eat courageously and explore new foods.

[Editor’s Note: For More on Jeni Hill visit ]http://herbalisteats.blogspot.com]

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