Bismarck Daily Bismarck Daily Bismarck Daily
    • Home
    • Advertise
    • About us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    07 Jun 2023
    • Bismarck Daily Bismarck Daily Bismarck Daily
    • Local News
    • State News
    • Politics
    • Crime News
    • Coronavirus
    • Sports
    • Community
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    Volunteers plant educational garden featuring Native traditions
    Local News

    Volunteers plant educational garden featuring Native traditions

    Ally Dillinger, 3 years ago
    MINOT, N.D. – Volunteers were planting seeds following a traditional drum and prayer ceremony at a new community garden next to Minot State University Friday.

    An educational, community garden focusing on native plants is the project of the nonprofit, dreamBIG Green Schools’ Red and Green School, which was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Bush Foundation through its Change Network Program to plant a neighborhood garden using indigenous planting traditions.

    Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site near Stanton donated the seeds and plants. A sampling of the crops include watermelon from the Arikara, beans, corn and Jerusalem artichoke from the Hidatsa and squash from the Arikara and Mandan. The garden also is growing ceremonial tobacco.

    MSU associate professor Daniel Conn said the seed varieties have been preserved for generations and promise a crop that will thrive in North Dakota conditions.

    “They are supposed to grow amazingly. They say you don’t need compost, but I still have it. It would seem wrong not to have it. Apparently, they are hardy,” Conn said.

    The community garden will employ traditional techniques from the Three Affiliated Tribes at MHA Nation but also practices of other Native people, including the Ojibwe, Lakota, Dakota and Turtle Mountain Chippewa.

    The project has support of Environmentally Minded People of Minot and campus groups that include the MSU Native American Center, Biology Club, Sustainability Committee, Teacher Education and First Year Experience.

    The garden is located along University Avenue, across from Model Hall, on the middle of three now vacant lots purchased by the MSU Development Foundation after the flood.

    Duane McGillis and Warren Anderson sang and drummed during the traditional prayer ceremony before volunteers began the planting Friday afternoon.

    Annette Mennem, director of the Native American Center on campus, explained the sage and tobacco incense used during the ceremony are traditional for blessing and prayer. The Crow, Hidatsa and Ojibwe tribes all had a presence at one time in the area, she said.

    Conn said volunteers will be maintaining the garden over the summer. In the fall, MSU students are likely to get involved.

    “It is a good way to involve students in learning opportunities,” Conn said. “We think of this space as a school – a school without walls.”

    The public and especially child-care providers and other children’s groups are invited to stop by and tour the garden. Visit redandgreenschool.org for more information about the garden and details on scheduling if interested in having an educational presentation for children.

    “The whole focus of this has been education,” Conn said. “We very much want to involve young people in lots of different ways.”

    Signs are to be erected to explain the crop traditions. Garden sponsors have been working with the North Dakota Historical Society, which had a representative on hand Friday.

    The harvest could go for different uses, including donations to food pantries, Conn said.

    Sports

    United Community Bank Athlete of the Week: Jaxon Feller

    Crime News

    Minot Police Department phone outages affecting city’s 9-1-1 system

    Related posts

    Local News

    ND State Hospital looking to fill various positions

    Ally Dillinger, 2 years ago
    Local News

    McHenry County Commissioners have approved a burn ban to run through the rest of the month

    Ally Dillinger, 2 years ago
    Local News

    Self-care counselor encouraging healthy ways to handle grief amid pandemic

    Ally Dillinger, 3 years ago
    Local News

    Lane closures began on May 1 on Interstate 29 from 3.5 miles south of the Grandin Interchange (Exit 92) to north of Blanchard Interchange (Exit 100)

    Ally Dillinger, 1 month ago
    Local News

    The City of Minot is making improvements to make the city accessible for all

    Ally Dillinger, 2 years ago
    Local News

    West Fargo VFW recognizing their Vietnam veterans for their sacrifice

    Ally Dillinger, 2 years ago

    Follow us on Google News

    Follow us on Flipboard

    Trending Slider

    Mother saw baby ‘blowing bubble’ on ultrasound, doctor revealed the truth and told her to abort!
    11 hours ago
    Doctors saw something sticking out of the little girl’s nose, ‘then made a concerning discovery’!
    12 hours ago
    Baby was born with a ‘permanent smile,’ the reason behind it will leave you in awe!
    13 hours ago
    Little boy woke up from coma to tell his mom 4 heartbreaking words, ‘moments before he passed away’!
    2 days ago
    Man learned he’s not the father of his 3 sons, ‘then realized what wife has done’!
    2 days ago
    Baby was born with two heads, three arms and two hearts; ‘look what the doctor did’!
    3 days ago

    Follow us on News Break

    Categories

    • Community (208)
    • Coronavirus (232)
    • Crime News (244)
    • Local News (334)
    • News (7)
    • Politics (260)
    • Sports (215)
    • State News (278)
    • Trending (310)
    • Login
    • Register

    Forgot Password

    Registration is closed.