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American Native Food
For many American Native people this triad is called the Three Sisters: Corn, or Maize, Beans and Squash. This food trinity has a variety of names through out Native Country, but these three staples remain the heart of most Indigenous diets.
An interesting fact about this Food Trio is that they are all interdependent on one another. Beans grow up the Corn stalks and add the nutrients (Nitrogen) to the soil that the others need to grow. Squash is planted in between them to keep weeds out. All three of these foods originally came from the Indigenous People of Mexico, Central and South America, then slowly made their way North to our Natives.
A new page with important facts about Native Health:
A brief American Native Food History
American Natives were mostly healthy before the Invasion of Europeans. They lived on the land and in some areas cultivated rich soils and grew crops. For the Bison hunting Nations that were always on the move, their diets were mixtures of meat that was hunted and plants, berries and fruits that were found where ever they went. This country was a bountiful place hundreds of years ago and Native people survived quite nicely.
After the Invasions, everything changed and none of it was good for Natives. Those who were sent to Reservations starved many times. Food meant for them often ended up in the hands of unscrupulous agents, who dispersed the supplies to themselves, their families and friends. Or just outright sold it for profit.
The Natives who refused to go to Reservations were a little better off, for a while. But food began to get scarce with the influx of Pioneers in Wagon Trains. They wiped out most natural supplies of food all along their way West. It is also difficult to grow or hunt when you are being chased by an Army. Once the Railroads were in place and Buffalo Bill Cody and others killed off nearly the entire Bison population, their was little food left for the Natives.
My People, the Shawnee, were considered very good farmers. When they arrived at the Reservation in Kansas, the Governor remarked that the Shawnee were the best farmers that he had ever seen. What he didn't know was that before they were shipped off to Kansas, the Shawnee from the Ohio Valley area had learned many techniques from the local Amish farmers who admired them and even hid many of them after the great Shawnee leader Tecumseh was killed.
American Native Food Today
Today, American Natives need only travel to their nearest grocery store to find an abundance of food. Many Natives do still grow some of their own food, raising geographically relevant crops that help to sustain their people through the hard times. Corn, beans and squash are still grown by many Nations. However, very few Native people are successful commercial farmers as they lack the investment capital to get started.
Southwestern Nations, like the Navajo and Hopis use the Ancient irrigation methods of their Ancestors to grow a colorful collection of corn, they harvest cactus, plant many vegetables and chilies and they also raise sheep.
Historically, California Natives were unlike most others, they did not grow much of anything to eat, they didn't have to, it was already there, all they had to do was take it. Fruits, Wild Game, Nuts, Roots, Berries, the state was bountiful and these Native People lived very well. Today, they have little land left where they can raise crops, so, many have built Casinos instead to help support their People.
Southern Nations like the Seminoles in Florida, raise Cattle and grow many food crops and they also process sugar cane.
Several Nations of Minnesota harvest wild rice and other related food products both to share with their own people and also to sell.
Natives in the Northern Plains States are raising cattle, while trying to forge a new future for their children by tapping into the Renewable Energy market with Wind Turbines.
The Northwest Nations of Washington and Oregon raise Salmon and grow Berries and Grapes.
The New England Nations have a wide variety of Shellfish, Corn, Maple Syrup and wonderful varieties of Apples, Pears, Grapes, Berries, including an abundance of Cranberries in Massachusetts.
Many Natives also grow tobacco and cotton, but as they are not food, they were not counted among the Native Nations crops.
Native Owned Food Businesses
The Ojibwa people of Red Lake Minnesota who not only grow wild rice, but now ship it all over the world.
The Skeet Family of Gallup, New Mexico sell Native American Traditional Foods.
White Earth Reservation of Minnesota offers a variety of wild rice products, maple syrup, organic coffee, jams and jellies and many non food products.
If you are an American Native with a food business, please send me your information to be listed on this page. A Federal number is not required!
A Pyramid of Native American foods. A Native American Food Guide Pyramid
How the Plains Indians provided food for themselves. The Luxton Museum of the Plains Indian
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Last edited September 29, 2008
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