There is a lot of interesting
information out there on Native American culture, for instance a site about the
Haudenosaunee Indians (or Iroquois) in Victor, New York just southeast of
Rochester, http://www.gagondagon.org/.
The Haudenosaunee are currently
working on the Iroquois White Corn Project,
which is an effort to restore the farming, consumption and distribution of
a traditional, nutritious, low glycemic index Iroquois white corn, used widely
by the Haudenosaunee for at least 2,000 years.
It was grown in abundance by the 17th Century Ganondagan
until thousands of bushels of it, the food that sustained the 4,500 people
living there, was burnt by the French in 1687. (Haudenosaunee
Indian Fact Sheet, 1998-2014)
Frenchman Marquis de Denonville, in
the course of military expeditions against the Haudenoshaunee in 1687 reported
that his forces destroyed more than 400,000 minots of corn. A French minot, according to Lewis Henry
Morgan, equals roughly three bushels, so the 400,000 minots of corn that
Denonville’s forces destroyed in 1687 equaled roughly 1.2 million bushels. While Denonville’s estimate may have been
inflated to please his superior’s, even half that amount would be a very large
cache and devastating to the Haudenoshaunee. (Johnson & Mann, 2000)
Frenchman Marquis de Denonville, in
the course of military expeditions against the Haudenoshaunee in 1687 reported
that his forces destroyed more than 400,000 minots of corn. A French minot, according to Lewis Henry
Morgan, equals roughly three bushels, so the 400,000 minots of corn that
Denonville’s forces destroyed in 1687 equaled roughly 1.2 million bushels. While Denonville’s estimate may have been
inflated to please his superior’s, even half that amount would be a very large
cache and devastating to the Haudenoshaunee.
The Haudenoshaunee ability to
produce a surplus of corn played a role in the political influence of the
confederacy (or alliance of 6 Native American Nations) which reached, through a
chain of alliances, from their homelands in present day upstate New York across
much of New England and the Middle Atlantic Regions. (Johnson &
Mann, 2000)
The original vision of the White
Corn Project was to bring the corn back to a prominent place at the center of
Haudenosaunee culture, diet and community.
They will plant, process and sell white corn in an effort to rebuild on
their legacy. (Ganondagan, n.d.)
For those interested in learning
more about this the link between traditional white corn and the Haudenoshaunee
(Iroquois) Creation Story will be the focus of the “Corn and Haudenoshaunee Creation”
workshops on Tuesday, March 18 from 6:30-8 PM
at the friends of Gagondagans Iroquois White Corn Project at 7191
Country Road 41 at School Street in Victor, NY.
Tell me
and I’ll forget
Show me
and I may not remember
Involve me
and I’ll understand
(Native
American Proverb)
Hi Marie,
ReplyDeleteIt still surprises me when I hear about the French inhabiting this area; I hear about the Europeans invading the area and I assume British, but there were so many groups of people who pushed their way into North America. This Project sounds like a wonderful opportunity! Thank you for providing those dates.
It is interesting to see how influential the corn, both culturally, economically and politically that it was used in the Iroquois Confederacy. One can see how such a surplus, could great influence neighboring powers and give the confederacy power.
ReplyDeleteRecently as of a few years ago, my tribe (Abenaki) was gifted original seeds for our grown ancestral corn. I am continually surprised at the number of cultural projects the Iroquois are working on.
I never thought of looking at the corn as being the power behind the Iroquois; I always thought it was their numbers, and this goes to show that with enough food supply a large confederacy can survive.
I really did enjoy researching this for two reasons. First, I learned something I didn't know and second, this is our back yard! I travel to this area at least three times a year and what a great place to visit with my children so they can see some of the Native American culture.
ReplyDeleteHello Marie,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post! You have collected some unique information about this region. I am glad that you were able to share it with the class. My one question is...did you find this by searching through the Module 2 resources or by going out and doing a general search online?
I actually found it through an online resource that was given in Module 2, http://www.ganondagan.org/. I enjoyed it quite a bit and hope to get some free time to take my boys there in our weekend travels.
Delete