THREE SISTERS GARDENING: REJUVENATING A TRADITIONAL FOOD SYSTEM WITH THE ONEIDA TRIBE OF INDIANS OF WISCONSIN
Diana L. Peterson
The Oneida Nation originally owned approximately 8 million acres of land in Wisconsin. In 1838, the Buffalo Creek Treaty established a 65,430 acre reservation near Green Bay. The Dawes Allotment Act was enacted in 1887 and in 1891, individual allotments were implemented on the Oneida reservation. By 1929, the land base dwindled to less than 20 acres due to repeated government legislation, treaties and land deals.
The Dawes Allotment Act has had a long term impact on the land base and on the traditional agricultural practices of the Oneida Nation and this has lasted over a hundred years. Until recently, gaming revenue has allowed Oneida people to build a nation by implementing programs and services for the community. The Oneida Nation created Tsyunhehkw^, a program focused on rejuvenating and preserving traditional agricultural practices.
A case study was conducted on the Wisconsin Oneida Nation reservation with ten community gardeners who raised a traditional Three Sisters garden for two growing seasons. Interviews were conducted with Oneida community Elders and the Oneida tribal historian to analyze sustainability of individual traditional community gardens. Five of the community gardeners returned the following season to preserve the Three Sisters gardens. By implementing the Tsyunhehkw^ program it has helped to restore cultural and traditional agricultural practices that will improve and increase the knowledge base of Oneida values.