The techniques used to grow food have lasting impacts on the land that we reside on.

Traditional ᏣᎳᎩ Farming

Historically, the ᏣᎳᎩ (Cherokee) farmed ᏠᎨᏏᏓᏫᏒ (crops) such as 4M (corn), beans, and ᎧᏴᏎᏆ (squash). These foods were often grown together and called the Three Sisters.

A black-and-white illustration depicts the "Three Sisters" agricultural method, showing a central maize stalk being climbed by a bean plant, while a squash plant spreads across the ground, with all three plants' interconnected root systems visible underground.

Photo: Lopez-Ridaura, S., Barba-Escoto, L., Reyna-Ramirez, C. A., Sum, C., Palacios-Rojas, N., & Gerard, B. (2021). Maize intercropping in the Milpa system. diversity, extent and importance for nutritional security in the western highlands of Guatemala. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82784-2

After colonial contact, the ᏣᎳᎩ (Cherokee) integrated foods such as wild hog and potatoes into their diets.

During the American expansion westward, the landscape was changed and damaged. Traditional farming and landscapes gave way to towns and European-style farming.

Modern ᏣᎳᎩ Farming

The Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma is working to revitalize traditional ᏠᎨᏏᏓᏫᏒ (crops) and farming techniques.

An aerial photograph shows a large garden with plots and pathways designed in culturally significant shapes, including a large arrowhead and a long, winding snake.

Photo: Cherokee Nation. (n.d.). Heirloom Garden. Cherokee Nation Natural Resources. Retrieved July 29, 2024, from https://naturalresources.cherokee.org/ethnobiology/heirloom-garden/

An heirloom seed bank is available to tribal citizens interested in growing traditional ᏠᎨᏏᏓᏫᏒ (crops).

Many of these ᏠᎨᏏᏓᏫᏒ (crops) are planted in an ᎪᎯᎩ ᏥᎨᏒ ᏂᏓᏂᏫᏍᎪ ᎠᏫᏒᏅᎢ (Heirloom Garden), made available for tribal citizens and visitors who are interested in learning how to (cultivate) different plants.

THINK-PAIR-SHARE

What does farming look like in your community? Are there any unique traditions or methods?