The Rich History and Resilience of Native American Agriculture – From Past to Present

Native American agriculture is deeply rooted in sustainability, resilience, and a profound connection to the land. Indigenous communities cultivate a diverse range of crops and  employ sophisticated farming techniques across various regions of the United States. These practices play a crucial role in shaping the ecosystems that many rely on today as well as ensuring the ability to produce in the future. 

“Despite the challenges and adversities of forced removal, encroachment, and competition for food and agriculture resources experienced by Indigenous peoples in the Americas, Native American agriculture remains a story of resilience, ingenuity and adaptation,” said Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative’s Executive Director, Carly Griffith Hotvedt (Cherokee Nation). 

The History of Tribal Food and Agriculture: Sophisticated Agricultural Systems 

From the fertile river valleys of the Southeast to the arid deserts of the Southwest and the high plains of the north, Indigenous communities have developed crops and agricultural techniques suited to their regions that support diverse and thriving agricultural systems. 

“Tribal food and agriculture systems are diverse and unique, and at the same time, can have common features based on geography and location or cultural traditions,” Griffith Hotvedt said. 

“Since time immemorial, Tribes have been in relationship with the land, resulting in the development of agricultural practices from traditional ecological knowledge that are as varied as the landscapes themselves and serve as the foundation for many foods enjoyed not only within North American, but around the world.” 

“One example of a brilliant Native farming technique that many people know are the Three Sisters, which are corn, beans, and squash. For us Potawatomi, you can’t forget the fourth sister, sunflower,” said Mary Belle Zook (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), IFAI’s director of communications. 

In the Southwest, Tribal people use dryland farming techniques to grow crops in arid environments going back millennia. Estimates from the Valley of the Sun in the area of modern-day Phoenix, Arizona, indicate that the Hohokam dug canals to farm the desert. Contemporary Indigenous producers there operate on the same system. By building terraces and using complex irrigation systems, they manage water efficiently, growing crops like corn, which can be water intensive, in desert landscapes. 

The Disruption: Broken Treaties and Forced Removal 

The arrival of Europeans drastically changed Native American agriculture. Colonization brought about forced removals, broken treaties, and the loss of vast tracts of ancestral land.  

“My Tribe was forced to remove from the Great Lakes region to the plains of Kansas, where we did not have access to the foods, plants, and animals that sustained us for generations upon generations,” Zook said. 

This story was repeated across what became the United States, but displaced Tribal communities adapted to survive. 

“My Tribe actually has agricultural provisions within some of our Treaties because part of the removal era and that time in federal policy was to make Tribal people yeoman farmers,” Zook said. “Did the resources and assistance to help us become successful farmers come? No, not really, unfortunately. It’s one broken treaty story of many that exist out there.” 

In the Pacific Northwest, the Karuk, Yurok, Hupa, and other Tribal communities practice controlled burning to maintain forest health, promote the growth of edible plants, and reduce the risk of large wildfires.  

Forest and land management entities at the state and federal level are beginning to work directly with Tribes and knowledge keepers to incorporate this method, also known as “cultural burning,” which can combat the increasing frequency of devastating wildfires across the U.S. 

Another example of TEK in practice is with the traditional harvest of wild rice by Tribes across the Great Lakes region. 

“For my people and our traditional harvest of mnomen, wild rice, has never been to pillage the waterways of all the wild rice and have huge productions at the end of the season,” Zook said. “We take only what we need, and our traditional harvesting process actually supports thriving wild rice beds by helping reseed the plants and create thriving ecosystems, improve water quality, and more. Our practices haven’t always made sense when looked at through a Western lens. But, Western science is catching up.” 

“Without Native agriculture, the world would miss out on foods like tomatoes, potatoes, corn, pumpkins and chocolate,” Griffith Hotvedt said. “The food landscape across the globe would be drastically different.” 

For Native American communities, diets that incorporate traditional foods are central to health, cultural identity, and well-being.  

Unfortunately, colonization, forced relocation, and modern food systems have disrupted access to traditional foods, resulting in health disparities like diabetes and heart disease in many Native communities. 

The resurgence of traditional diets – and access to traditional foods – offers opportunities for both health and cultural revitalization.  

“By focusing on local, community-driven agriculture, these initiatives are helping to rebuild Native food systems that are healthier, more sustainable, and rooted in Tribal traditional knowledge,” Griffith Hotvedt said. 

The revival of Native American agriculture offers valuable lessons for modern-day sustainability efforts. At a time when industrial agriculture is facing increasing scrutiny for its environmental impact, traditional Native farming practices provide a model of how to work with the land rather than against it. 

“Despite the significant disruptions imposed by colonization, many Indigenous communities have preserved their agricultural heritage and are now leading the way in reviving sustainable, culturally-rooted farming practices,” Griffith Hotvedt said. 

Crop rotation, controlled burns, and polyculture (growing multiple crops together) demonstrate how agricultural systems can be productive while enhancing, rather than depleting, natural resources. 

“In addressing issues like climate change and food security, these practices are more relevant than ever,” Griffith Hotvedt said. “By learning from and supporting the revival of Native American agriculture, we can secure a more sustainable and resilient future.” 

How to Support Native Food and Agriculture 

Ensuring the continued growth and successes Tribal food and agriculture has experienced in the last 10 to 15 years requires the support of Native and non-Natives alike. 

“We can help fuel the momentum we’re experiencing in so many ways, but one way I seek to help is by incorporating at least one Tribally-produced food or ingredient into my diet each day,” Zook said. “That can be as simple as using Tribal-produced maple syrup or sugar into your coffee each morning or opting for Tribal-produced jerky for an afternoon snack.”  

The Intertribal Agriculture Council’s American Indian Foods program provides a starting point for those wanting to purchase Tribal-produced foods and products. 

“Tribally-operated farmers’ markets, Tribal meat processing facilities with storefronts, and community events showcasing Tribal food products are great places to buy food and support Tribal producers,” Griffith Hotvedt said.  

Empowering the next generation of Native agriculturalists is also an important way IFAI supports the long-term sustainability and growth of Tribal food and agriculture. 

“According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, we’re seeing more young producers entering the industry, defying the general trends in agriculture of aging farming populations. That’s truly something to celebrate,” said Griffith Hotvedt. 

The future of Tribal food and agriculture is bright. 

“There is no time like now to invest in Tribal food and agriculture, and IFAI welcomes Tribes seeking to establish or grow their agricultural endeavors to contact us for our free expert and professional assistance,” Griffith Hotvedt said. 

Learn about the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative’s work and services at indigenousfoodandag.com.