Written by: Parishay Adhmed
Edited by: Eleanor Jeavons
Designed by: Rishona Fernandes
Published by: Rayna Almas
Introduction:
The word Indigenous refers to groups or communities with a long history of habitation and ties to a certain place. It is frequently used to characterize communities that lived in locations across the world during “pre-colonial” or “pre-Age of Discovery/Exploration” times, i.e., before the advent of Europeans and others whose colonization profoundly altered the lives of Indigenous people. North America is home to hundreds of Indigenous peoples, each with their own unique language and culture. There are 564 federally recognized tribes in the United States, and the total number of tribes is considered to be close to 1000. To explain their agricultural views and approaches, we must build a wide picture. Today we will explore the different Gardening Practices of the indigenous peoples.
The Meswaki Peoples:
The Meskwaki people, commonly written “Mesquakie,” are Eastern Woodland Culture regions of Algonquian descent. The spoken language of the Meskwaki people is closely related to the Sauk and Kickapoo dialects, and they are making great efforts to preserve it.
The tribe’s traditional home is in the St. Lawrence River Valley, which includes Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, and the Canadian border. Although the French referred to the Meskwaki as “Les Renards” (the Foxes or Foxes), they have always called themselves “Meskwaki.”
Their forefathers selected plants exhibiting desired characteristics and crossed them with other productive plants to produce the corn variety. They would preserve the seeds the plant produced and pass them on season after season and century after century, if they were happy with the outcome. Museums and other organizations started gathering Native American seeds in the early 1900s.
Additionally, tribes distributed seeds to those that cared for them. William Jones, an ethnobotanist whose grandmother was Meskwaki, took seeds from the tribe to the Field Museum in Chicago in 1909 so they might be preserved. In 2019, the museum gave those seeds back to the Meskwaki people. In recognition that tribal seed savers have historically been women, other organizations are also assisting tribes in returning those heirloom seeds to the communities that originally nurtured, grew, and preserved them. This initiative is known as “rematriation.”
Seed-Saving:
The practice of preserving seeds from one crop for a later harvest is known as seed saving. In the past, seed storage was a necessary practice, particularly for Indigenous societies who depended on certain crops for social and cultural as well as commercial needs.
No-Till (Dig):
A no-till gardening method involves mulching the soil to decrease weeds, save water, and stop soil erosion.
Gardeners that practice no-till gardening don’t till their fields before planting. Rather, they minimize soil disturbance by using specialized equipment to make a channel just big enough for seeds to be sown.
No-till gardening was used by indigenous peoples, and it saw a significant resurgence in the 1990s.
No-till systems have the potential to reduce the emission of harmful greenhouse gases. They can also stop significant soil erosion, but if you don’t use herbicides, this could result in more weed issues, which could endanger your plants.
With a no-till technique, seeds are planted after topsoil is sliced. Larger farms use a bladed piece of equipment pulled by a tractor or a draft animal to cut these slices. However, a home gardener may find that the procedure is as easy as using a stick to make a furrow in the dirt.
Companion Planting:
In gardening and agriculture, companion planting refers to the practice of planting different crops close to one another for a variety of purposes, such as weed control, pest control, pollination, habitat provision for beneficial insects, space optimization, and general crop productivity increases.
The easiest way to describe companion planting is as the process of placing various plant species close together so they can mutually benefit from each other. Occasionally the benefits are one-sided, with one plant giving the other plant most of the benefits of the alliance out of selflessness. In other instances, both plants gain from each other, each boosting the vitality or health of the other.
Who are the three Sisters?:
Squash, beans, and corn are combined to form the “Three Sisters.” Peas have, however, occasionally been used in place of beans, while watermelons or pumpkins have occasionally been used in place of squash.
This clever technique of crop-planting so that each one benefits the others dates back to the 1300s at the latest. Since all three of these sister crops are native to the Americas, it is known to have been practiced by many different countries, however it is most commonly practiced by the Iroquois and Haudenosaunee Native tribes.
In actuality, people have been benefiting from this harmonic interaction between crops for generations; in fact, it is still in practice today. This technique was initially developed to help the indigenous peoples in need. Although the machinery of today was unavailable to them centuries ago, they had to perform all ground preparation work by hand using crude implements.
Benefits of Companion Planting:
- By creating healthier crops, companion planting reduces the need for pesticides by acting as a natural pest deterrent. Bees are drawn to the pollen-filled bean flowers. Consequently, all three crops gain from the bees.
- The towering corn stalks are surrounded by bean plants that grow vertically, making it easier to pick the beans.
- Squash produces prickly leaves that deter pest animals from roaming about.
- Stack gardening, another name for Three Sisters, is the practice of filling your plating space with three tiers. This makes the most use of the space you have for gardening in order to yield the largest possible harvest.
Conclusion:
It should be noted that Indigenous gardening techniques represent a deep understanding of agriculture that has been refined over many years. These methods, which include companion planting, no-till gardening, and seed preservation, show a strong bond with the land and an innate understanding of ecological equilibrium.
All things considered, Indigenous gardening techniques provide insightful perspectives on sustainable agriculture by highlighting natural harmony and the significance of cultural traditions in influencing farming operations. With regards to global concerns like food security and climate change, these tried-and-true methods offer a roadmap for more resilient and sustainable farming systems. All people can benefit from a more sustainable and just future if they accept and learn from Indigenous farming expertise.
Sources
Benner, Dana. “No till Gardening Methods – Grit.” Www.grit.com, www.grit.com/farm-and-garden/crops/no-till-gardening-methods-zm0z24mazols/. Accessed 27 May 2024.
“Companion Plant the Indigenous Way: Three Sisters.” Tocabe Indigenous Marketplace, shoptocabe.com/blogs/recipes/companion-plant-the-indigenous-way-three-sisters. Accessed 27 May 2024.
Hassani, Nadia . “The Basics of Companion Planting Garden Crops.” The Spruce, 29 Nov. 2021, www.thespruce.com/companion-planting-with-chart-5025124.
“History | Meskwaki | Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi.” Meskwaki Nation, www.meskwaki.org/history/.
November 30, and 2021 Susan Cosier. “For Thousands of Years, Indigenous Tribes Have Been Planting for the Future.” NRDC, 30 Nov. 2021, www.nrdc.org/stories/thousands-years-indigenous-tribes-have-been-planting-future.
“Love Regenerative Agriculture? Thank Indigenous Peoples.” The Climate Reality Project, 22 Sept. 2022, www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/love-regenerative-agriculture-thank-indigenous-peoples