Fall Group Meeting on Mother Corn

ᏎᎷ ᏙᎦᏠᏍᎬ ᏙᎦᏃᎮᏗ

On Friday, September 28, we gathered at the tribal complex in Tahlequah, OK to discuss the significance of corn—selu—to Cherokee people. The Medicine Keepers opened the meeting by telling stories about their childhood, when their parents and grandparents raised corn fields to feed their families. More than just a “staple food,” selu has sustained Cherokee people since time immemorial. The elders shared numerous traditional recipes, which we put into action with our heirloom corn from the Cherokee Nation Seedbank Program. Using a hand-cranked grain mill, the students ground Cherokee colored flour corn into meal. The Medicine Keepers showed students how to cook corn bread and numerous other traditional foods from scratch. Needless to say, we all had a great time learning, cooking, and eating!

Medicine Keepers John Ross and Phyllis Edwards discuss the importance of corn to Cherokees. Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

Pat Gwin describes the genetics of Cherokee heirloom corn. Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

CELP students shelling Cherokee heirloom corn. Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

Medicine Keeper Nancy Scott shells corn with CELP junior member Cherokee Davis.

Phyllis Edwards and Bonnie Kirk with Cherokee heirloom corn.

Heirloom Cherokee colored flour corn. Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

Pat Gwin instructs students on how to operate the grain mill. Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

CELP student Sky Wildcat. Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

Medicine Keeper Anna Sixkiller making corn bread. Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

Medicine Keeper Phyllis Edwards with fresh corn bread. Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

Photo by Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Communications Department.

ᎢᏓᎵᏍᏓᏴᎲᎦ! Let’s eat!