The Cherokee Nation

[joiei]

In today's Tulsa World is an article about how the Cherokee tribe is working to preserve plant seeds that are "culturally significant" to the tribe.

Gwin, the tribe's natural resources supervisor, is encouraging tribal citizens to take part in an heirloom plant project for two reasons — to get them outside and active and to preserve plants that are culturally significant to Cherokees.

To help celebrate and promote the project, the Cherokee Nation is offering a limited number of uniquely Cherokee seeds to its members.

"More than 20 plants have been identified as historically being with the Cherokee people for generations, from beans that resemble snakes to giant squash," Gwin said.

Preserving heirloom plants that have specific links to that group of people. I hope other tribes follow suit, this is just one aspect of preserving a groups heritage.

[Richard Kilgore]

Very interesting. Could be a source of income, too, since there is interest in heirloom produce.