Support Indigenous Gardens Projects
Current projects include the Indigenous Gardens Network, the Shasta Takelma Learning Garden, Dragonfly’s Garden, and the Three Sisters Garden
The Indigenous Gardens Network and the Shasta Takelma Learning Garden
The Indigenous Gardens Network is a hub for Indigenous-led land projects centering on food sovereignty, land stewardship, educational opportunities and habitat restoration. The purpose of the network is to provide accessibility to land and “first foods” for tribal communities. First foods are plant and animal species that Native Americans traditionally relied upon for subsistence, medicine, and ceremonial uses. The network consists of a tribal steering committee and working groups with citizens of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Their Indigenous knowledge and expertise of cultivation, harvesting, and stewardship inform and direct each project that the network takes on.
Projects include listening sessions on barriers to land accessibility for tribal people, planning meetings, site visits, the creation of working groups, an online Acorn Camp, a First Food Stewardship planning project at Vesper Meadow, development of a Shasta/Takelma Learning Garden at SOU, and the purchase of acorn processing equipment and camas restoration tools.
Dragonfly’s Garden and the Three Sisters Garden
Dragonfly’s Garden, located in SOU’s community garden, and the Three Sisters Garden, located at the SOU Farm, are dedicated spaces Students and alums of the Native American Studies program to cultivate and harvest Indigenous First Foods and Medicines. Indigenous First Foods and Medicines are shared with Indigenous students and families.