CN Launches ‘Harvesting Our Heritage’ Program to Expand Heirloom Seed Distribution

The Cherokee Nation is expanding its commitment to preserving traditional agriculture with the launch of “Harvesting Our Heritage,” a new initiative that will provide heirloom seeds to Community and Cultural Outreach-participating organizations across the country for community gardens and citizen distribution.

“The Harvesting Our Heritage program represents a significant step forward in our mission to preserve and promote Cherokee agricultural traditions,” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “By partnering with our Community and Cultural Outreach-participating Cherokee community organizations, we're creating sustainable networks of seed stewards who will help maintain and adapt these precious varieties for future generations.”

Through this program, participating CCO organizations will receive specialized seed packets containing traditional Cherokee corn, beans, and squash or pumpkin varieties. These packets contain larger quantities than standard individual distributions, enabling communities to establish sustainable growing operations. Cherokee citizens can learn more about the tribe’s annual distribution of heirloom seeds by going online to this link.

“‘Harvesting Our Heritage’ is about more than just growing crops,” Deputy Chief Bryan Warner said. “It's about nurturing community bonds, preserving our agricultural knowledge, and ensuring our traditional crops continue to evolve and thrive in diverse environments across the country.”

To support participating organizations, the Cherokee Nation Seed Bank will produce educational videos throughout the growing season, providing guidance on planting, cultivation, harvesting, and seed storage techniques. This educational component aims to ensure successful growing seasons and enable communities to maintain their own seed stocks for future distribution to their members.

“What makes this program particularly exciting is its potential for long-term impact,” said Secretary of Natural Resources Christina Justice. “As these seeds are grown in different environments, they naturally adapt to local conditions, becoming more resilient to specific challenges like heat or drought. This adaptation process strengthens our seed stock while deepening community connections to our agricultural heritage.”

The program emphasizes community-based seed stewardship, encouraging participating groups to maintain their crops collectively and share both harvested seeds and agricultural knowledge within their communities.

Later this year, the Cherokee Nation Seed Bank will expand with the installment of a new heirloom seeds garden at the Male Seminary Recreation Center (Markoma Gym) in Tahlequah. The expansion will double the space for growing, allowing the Seed Bank to produce more seeds and help meet the growing demand for heirloom crops for years to come. 

“I think this is a wonderful program that will do nothing but benefit the community groups that choose to participate,” Illinois River Area Community Organization President Faye Morrison said. “One of the major benefits of the program is the food security it can bring. With the prices of groceries being as high as they are, a community garden can be a great resource for providing families with fresh, healthy foods to add to their menus.”