The Onkwe of the Onondaga Nation

Onkwe community displaying traditional varieties of corn, squash, and beans (the “Three Sisters”) in the Haudenosaunee territory, 2022
Photograph by Kiliii Yũyan

Across the Iroquois Confederacy in upstate New York and southern Ontario, Canada traditionally named Haudenosaunee, are six nations where communities and activists are cultivating and preserving traditional food systems. The Onkwe of the Onondaga Nation is one such community, whose members are actively working to cultivate traditional corn, squash, and beans.

Indigenous people across the U.S. are initiating similar projects to preserve foodways, and by foodways we mean the customs and traditions relating to food and its preparation. Embracing traditional foodways can lead to healthier communities that are more self-sustaining.

Access to Food
Indigenous Food Movements
The Onkwe of the Onondaga Nation