Last year, Native American Studies Educator Bernadine Young Bird and team at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College planted a traditional Hidatsa garden, based on the methods of legendary gardener Buffalo Bird Woman.
The project — “Arugadi da Magoots: Returning to our Gardens,” grew out of Bernie’s determination to renew and inspire others in the community to get back to the land, reconnect with traditions, and live and eat healthy!
We wrote about the garden here and here.
THIS YEAR… Bernie’s back, with three gardens:
Contemporary Garden — onions, squash, and cucumbers already planted. Peppers, carrots, radishes, potatoes and corn next week.
Traditional Garden — Hidatsa style (based on Buffalo Bird Woman). Already planted; Hidatsa sunflowers and Hidatsa blue corn. Waiting to get seed for beans and squash.
Earth Lodge Village — Hidatsa style (based on Buffalo Bird Woman). Already planted: Hidatsa Blue Corn and Hidatsa sunflower. Waiting to get seed for beans and squash
Stay tuned for updates. TLC will be making another road trip to North Dakota in early June to get our hands dirty helping out, and reporting what we find.
It will be great to meet up again, following our visit in April to make new Hidatsa language recordings.
You can read the Buffalo Bird Woman’s Garden Book online.
Or buy the book from Amazon.