Indigenous wisdom is literally embodied in Native seeds that are being threatened by corporate agriculture’s transgenic seeds and chemical pesticides at a time that Indigenous ways of growing healthy food in partnership with Nature to maintain healthy soil are being lost. Indigena is partnering with women from Lakota, Dakota, North Nakota Sioux Nations, Kogi Traditional Authorities of Gonawindua and the Lacandon Maya to protect and preserve this knowledge of food systems and teach girls these traditional pathways by establishing Seed Gardens and Seed Banks.
Native Seed Gardens: Young girls and Elders plant and gather Native non-GMO heritage seed crops and living medicines that can become food and health resources as well as future income streams.
Native Seed Banks: Because seeds constitute Native knowledge and carry genetic material of Indigenous culture and tradition, open source Seed Banks are essential resources and points of connection for alliance and community building and economy.