The Center for Great Plains Studies and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma are building an Indigenous garden as part of the Walking in the Footsteps of our Ancestors project, a joint initiative that aims to promote healing and reconciliation in southeast Nebraska by reconnecting the Otoe-Missouria to their homelands and educating non-Native people about the history and ongoing presence of the Tribe and other Indigenous peoples in our region.
The project is growing traditional crops, as well as ceremonial and medicinal plants, in a 1/8-acre garden for the next two years in partnership with Community Crops at Prairie Pines Nature Preserve in Lincoln. Community Crops is a non-profit organization in Lincoln that empowers people to grow food through education, experiences and resources and Wachiska Audubon Society has recently taken over management of Prairie Pines. The garden is named the Sarah Grace (Hudson) and George Kihega Garden.
Community volunteers Tom Lynch, Professor Emeritus of English, and Meryl Sahouet, Graduate Research Assistant at the Center, will be leading the project on the Lincoln side, while Otoe-Missouria tribal members Veronica Pipestem, project Co-Director Christina Goodson, and project Team Leader Cory DeRoin are providing guidance on the project.
The project held a garden naming and blessing during Bi Mą K’anye (month they dig the earth) on Saturday, April 26. Otoe-Missouria tribe members and the local community gathered to take part in a potluck to celebrate the garden, connect with each other, and learn more about the Jiwere-Nut'achi people.
The garden will include: rányi (tobacco), ðexą́nki (sunflowers), hugretoinge (little bluestem), nąmpyúbrą (wild bergamot), únyi (beans), wádwą (squash), ratúxrą (sun chokes), dógwe (prairie turnips).
Volunteers in the Lincoln area are needed to help with all aspects of the garden. Please reach out to Tom Lynch at tplynch2@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering.
Prairie Pines Nature Preserve is located at 3100 N 112th St, Lincoln, Neb. This project is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities.
