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| Collaborators: |
Brian Chenevert
Paul Bunnell
Raymond Lussier
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Abenaki Corn...
Past...
In September 2006, during a reception at the old school house in Wells
River, our then co-chief, Ms Nancy Millette, "graciously accepted the return
of the corn seeds of our Abenaki ancestors, from Sarah & Charles Calley". Chief
Millette, on behalf of the Koasek Abenaki Traditional Band of the Abenaki
Sovereign Nation, received from the hands of Mrs Sarah Calley, a plate of
Abenaki Corn cobs.
Much was said and written up at the time, and the band members were elated
by that latest bit of news.
A year later, on September 21st 2007, Ms Millette stepped down as Co-Chief
of the Koasek Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation, in order to
dedicate more of her valuable time to the White Pine Association. She later
returned as temporary Sub-Chief of our Band, but only to step down once again, in
November 2008. Needless to say that in the meantime, things had been
brewing, and the atmosphere was rather stormy at times. To our dismay, upon
the resignation of Ms Millette as Sub-Chief and citizen of the Koasek
Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation, we were also informed that
we no longer had a website as our then domain name apparently was no longer
ours, as well as our official logo, our corn, our on-line store, and
everything else we thought were the property of our Band. As it turned out,
what we believed we owned was in fact the property of the White Pine
Association and Ms Millette, its president. Live and learn...
And present...
Our band is slowly recovering, and as in the past, we will survive ! The
infusion of new blood and goodwill to support the efforts of our Chief,
Brian Chenevert, and our Sub-Chief, Paul Bunnell, will continue to help us
on the road to total recovery. But everything takes time and money, and Rome
was not built in one day ! And neither will our success... If any of our
citizens feel the need to support our efforts and join the team of
volunteers, please feel free to contact our Sub-Chief, Paul Bunnell. He will
gladly accept your help !
Our ancestral corn returns home, again !
Thanks to the effort of Nathan Pero, a long time citizen of the Koasek
Traditional Band, and the son of
former Chief, Joe Pero, we have been able to secure some Abenaki Corn seeds
in time for this year's crop.
A week ago, on May 25th. 2009, Nathan met with Charles Calley, in Newberry,
Vermont, at which time he was able to secure a few dry cobs for seeds, on
behalf of our Band. There was no flourish and no press present to witness
the event. Only two gentlemen looking after the business at hand.
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Charles Calley & Nathan Pero |
Abenaki Corn cobs |
Here is a copy of
Nathan Pero's thank you note to
Charles Calley:
May 25, 2009
Thank you to
Charles
Calley for
your
generous
gift of the
traditional
Abenaki corn
to the
Tribe.
This corn
will be
passed on to
any member
who would
like to grow
it and pass
it along to
other
members in
order to
keep this
corn species
alive. It
will also be
given to any
school who
would like
to learn
about and
grow the
Three
Sisters
garden,
consisting
of corn,
beans and
squash or
pumpkins.
Accepting
this gift
from Charles
on behalf of
the Tribe is
Nathan E.
Pero,
Sub-Chief of
the Nolka
Clan, and
sitting
member of
the Koasek
Tribal
Council.
Thank you
once again
to Charles
and his
family for
keeping this
corn species
alive.
Nathan E.
Pero
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A bit of history...
By coincidence, the Calleys inherited a
strain of finger-sized sweet corn from the late Carroll Greene, a farmer in
Deering, N.H. Greene's ancestors had been among the first English settlers
in the Upper Valley, and were given corn seeds by the Abenaki, sometimes in the 18th
century, according to the Calleys. The return of the Abenaki corn seeds, in
September 2006, which had been out of the hands of the aboriginal people for about 300 years,
meant a lot to the Abenaki citizens of the Koasek Traditional Band.
A former citizen of the band, Peggy Fullerton, was successful in growing the
first crop in 2007, and plans were made to share the seeds with other interested
Koasek citizens. After the departure of Ms Millette and a group of friends and family
members, in November 2008, so did our supply of the corn seeds for this year's
crop. But thanks to Nathan Pero and Charles Calley, we are now in possession of
the necessary corn seeds for growing the 2009 crop. Let's hope that it will be a
good year and a successful crop.
The three sisters garden...
Who are the three sisters ? They are not people at all... To Native Americans of
the Eastern Woodlands, the term "Three Sisters" refers to: corn, beans and
squash, known for their compatibility and the way they complement and help each
other as they grow, a kind of cooperation between vegetables and fruit. This
form of gardening is also called companion planting. Modern day agriculturists
know it as the genius of the Indians, who interplanted pole beans and squash
with corn, using the strength of the sturdy corn stalks to support the twining
beans and the shade of the spreading squash vines to trap moisture for the
growing crop. Research further revealed the additional benefits of this
companion planting. The bacterial colonies on the bean roots capture nitrogen
from the air, some of which is released into the soil to nourish the high
nitrogen needs of the corn.
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Koasek
Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki
Nation |
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©2009 All rights reserved |
Last update:
08/12/2009 |
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