Niben (Summer) is here, and it’s easy to see why niben is called the “time of plenty.” If you’re a forager like me, you know the excitement that comes from finding tiny edible treasures among the brambles. Demen (strawberry) season is fading, but we see an abundance of berries wherever we turn.
A new foray for me this year is gardening. I know how important healthy food access is in our community–with education being the main barrier to accessing wild foods and cultivating our own in home or community gardens. Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge is caring for 7 plots in the Buttonwood Community Garden managed by Berks Nature. We’re learning a lot of valuable lessons in our gardening experiment this year, but along with the challenges, we’re celebrating so many successes!
Lesson one: arugula is PROLIFIC. Who wants some?
Speaking of planting seeds, I’m so excited to share that I had the privilege of participating in the inaugural class of Citizen Potawatomi Nation‘s Mdamen Program through the tribe’s Department of Education. I was honored to be one of the participants interviewed by the Hownikan, our tribal newspaper, about my experience in the program, and now you can finally read all about it on page 10!
My experience in this program has given me a solid foundation to promote indigeneity in my everyday life, and I can’t wait to do this meaningful work with our community. Grow with us!
Bama pi! Until later!
Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge 