THE ONEIDA NATION IN WISCONSIN
P
reservation of their white heirloom corn is a major goal of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin. This tribe has more than 17,000 members, of whom around 3,100 live on or near the reservation
in northeast Wisconsin west of Green Bay. In addition to beef and bi- son ranching, they manage an apple orchard, cornfields, two hotels and casinos, an LPGA golf course and country club, and the Oneida Market and One Stop. The latter is a combination gas station/convenience store where the tribe sells locally grown produce and meat products. Oneida Nation has hosted food sovereignty conferences for the past
several years, giving other tribes a forum for sharing their experience with locally grown produce. It also sponsors agritourism events such as an annual Husking Bee and Apple Fest. In the Husking Bee, community and youth come together to help with the traditional ways of harvest- ing, thus strengthening cultural ties. Participants learn how to harvest the corn, braid it to dry and practice seed-saving techniques. Held in mid-September, the Apple Fest serves as a pick-your-own experience and also as a free community event that offers family fun, including pony rides, food tasting and a pie contest. For more information, please contact the Oneida Nation at:
oneida-nsn.gov.
ABOVE LEFT: An ear of heirloom white corn, grown by the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, drying in the field. TOP RIGHT: Two Oneida youth harvesting corn at the end of a busy growing season. BOTTOM RIGHT: Bundles of dried Oneida heirloom white corn hung to dry for storage and use in the winter.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 21
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ONEIDA NATION OF WISCONSIN
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52