Not a Blog post on David Graham & Terri Warpinski

 

Event poster I created

Instead of writing about the art talk speaker, I was able to talk about the guest speaker that came to campus on behalf of Greenfire, SLUG, and LUNA. 

Laura Manthe is from Oneida Nation and spoke on behalf of the Native American agriculture and culinary traditions. 

The crops, beans, and squash are the Three Sisters. For centuries these three crops have been the center of Native American agriculture and culinary traditions. It is for good reason as these three crops complement each other in the garden as well as nutritionally. Manthe spoke on behalf of properly growing these crops. To grow them, you are supposed to start with the corn first until it's about a foot tall, then the beans and squash. Adding the beans later, gives them a stalk to grow on and add nitrogen in the soil for the corn to have the right nutrients, while the squash provides protection to the beans and corn and also gives shade to the plant.

Laura talking about the origin of the Three Sisters

In addition to talking about the Three Sisters, Laura also talked to us about the Indigenous people of Wisconsin's origin story and their journey/history, and where they are today. Hearing her and her family share stories of how seeds that they grow are from the sky world and their seasons help them keep time was so amazing to sit and absorb. Her daughter shared that when the first thunders start, they begin tapping trees and they stop when the frogs sing. It was so cool! They really focus on the gifts the world provides and I honestly wish the rest of our world did too. Personally, I feel our world would be a whole lot better if it did. 

In addition to this, she and her daughter run an organization called Oje-láku (Among the Cornstalks) where they have brought back traditional growing, cultivating, and trading of Native white corn! It was beautiful to hear the people they are reaching, and the difference they are making in their communities! It definitely inspired me to do more in mine.

Here's a link to her website to learn more!

At this talk hosted by student run organizations here at Lawrence University, we prepped and made a delicious meal beforehand and invited those in our clubs, and on campus to join. Organizing this event was incredibly important to me as I am a SLUG and Greenfire board member, where we as SLUG have Oneida Nation Three Sister Seeds! This was a tradition of SLUG to do with Oneida, but was lost these past 4 years, and it is my hope to bring it back. Having Laura Manthe come to speak on behalf of her traditions and the seeds will guide us in the right direction of respecting the land we grow on and the seeds we plant with.

Everyone who came to the event sharing a meal & getting ready for the speaker

Dinner Greenfire made: contains corns, beans, and squash

Corn husk dolls that speakers family helped us make