"The Three Sisters offer us a new metaphor for an emerging relationship between Indigenous knowledge and Western science, both of which are rooted in the earth." - Excerpt from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Three Sisters Garden

In the summer of 2021, the NAECC established the Three Sister Garden located outside of the Center. The garden started with the simple task of sharing traditional Indigenous gardening practices and has evolved into community project uniting students and creating partnership across campus. Throughout the year, the NAECC staff share the garden with the public as a focal point in teaching about Indigenous food sovereignty, food sustainability, and sharing of Indigenous cultures.

Tribal nations across the U.S. honor the Three Sisters consisting of beans, corn, and squash and their origins are imbedded within creation stories of the Haudenosaunee, Cherokee, and more. Numerous scientific articles, papers, and research demonstrate the interconnection between the plants but the Indigenous gardening practices refer to the plants as family and are nurtured accordingly.

Seeds are obtained from individual students who work with their tribal nations seed banks and from Indigenous owned seed initiatives such as the Indigenous SeedKeepers Network, Native Seeds Search, and local companies such as Native Plants Unlimited.

The Purdue Student Farms joined the NAECC gardening initiative and they continue to work collectively to provide support. Students and staff maintain the garden, harvest and in the fall semester, the NAECC host the Three Sister lunch during Indigenous Peoples Week.

Summer 2021

Garden established with the assistance of Kerry Rabenold, faculty emeritus, seeds donated by local Native ethnobotanist Dani Tippmann (Miami of Oklahoma), and maintained by Derrick Slick, NAECC Graduate Assistant and student volunteers.

 Summer 2022

Purdue Student Farms started seeds in green house and were transplanted into the NAECC garden. Bryce Bitsie, NAECC student staff, and student volunteers maintained the garden throughout the summer and fall. Successful harvest including gathering corn pollen.

Summer 2023

Garden expanded to include growing sweetgrass and white sage in containers and the fourth sister was added to the garden, sunflowers. Additionally, Three Sister garden was expanded into the West Lafayette community garden and maintained by student volunteers. Thanks to community member Jo Michon for partnering with NAECC and students.