Bringing Back Beans, Corn, Squash and Sunflowers To Native American Crops

Centuries before European arrival in North America, Native American tribes planted squash, corn, and beans together and called them three sisters, adding sunflower to the plot. 

They were called sisters because they flourished when cultivated together.

Lost practice

Presently, three-fourths of all Native Americans are in reservations with mainly urban areas. All over the country, communities of Native American communities cannot access healthy food. 

These peoples have balanced sustainability with agriculture and were good caretakers of their lands for centuries.

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Research on the Three Sisters

A new research project entitled "Reuniting the Three Sisters" seeks to restore such balance. It involves Native American garden projects in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. 

Native American practices

Native Americans historically planted indigenous varieties of plants that are specifically suited to their lands. These seeds had various desired traits like color, flavor, and texture.

Growing corn, squash, and beans together with sunflowers had many benefits, and the Native Americans took advantage of this.

The three sisters' synergistic effects

The stalks of corn created the trellis that beans need for climbing, while the beans' vines protected the corn from winds. Beans and corn became healthier when planted together because the bacteria on the roots of the beans get nitrogen and allow it to be used both by the corn and beans.

Meanwhile, the broad leaves of squash provide shade which prevents weeds from thriving and maintaining water. Heritage varieties of squash are also equipped with spines which discouraged raccoons and deer from eating the plants in the garden.

Finally, the sunflowers along the garden edge served as natural fencing that protects the other plants from the wind and herbivorous animals, while at the same time attracting pollinators.

This system produced harvests that bountifully sustained large communities and brought life to a healthy and thriving trade.

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Disruption by the European settlers

As the European-American settlers dominated the fertile land, they implemented suppressive policies that prevented the Natives from practicing traditional farming.

Andrew Jackson signed in 1830 the Indian Removal Act. This forcibly removed Native Americans from their lands.

Native women were prevented from planting more than small plots. Native men were pressured to practice monoculture according to Euro-American practices. Policies gave only small plots per family which further limited their access to lands and prevented them from communal farming.

Children were prevented from studying traditional agricultural techniques as well as preserving and preparing native foods. Their palates were forcibly adapted to Western tastes.

These oppressive policies nearly wiped out the practice of the three sisters agriculture in the 1930's Midwest.

Reviving traditional Native planting methods

Now, the Native American peoples are diligently reclaiming indigenous crop varieties. These are healthy and culturally appropriate crops that help decrease incidences of rampant obesity and diabetes.

Traditional knowledge of agriculture help elders passes cultural knowledge to the next generation. These techniques also help protect Native lands which benefit the surrounding ecosystems.

Three Sisters Project

The Iowa State University has a Three Sisters garden project which collaborates with Tsyunhehkw farmers and Ohelaku farmers cooperative in Wisconsin. It also works with the Nebraskan Indian College for the Santee Sioux and Omaha Nebraskans and the Dream of Wild Health organization which reconnects the Native community with their traditional spiritual, medicinal, culinary uses for plants.  

The project has three sisters plots and in communities. It also runs workshops, encourages testing the soil, and grows rare varieties of seeds for repatriation back to their native lands.

With humility and sincerity, a network can be built, and the Native American practice of the three sisters' agriculture of squash, corn, beans, and sunflower can benefit all.

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