Ukwakhwa Farmstead

Ukwakhwa will pilot expanded production of Haudenosaunee heirloom corn and beans to strengthen seed sovereignty, teach scalable growing methods, and increase culturally relevant food access for tribal elders through the Tribal Elder Food Box program.

This grant will support Ukwakhwa Farmsteads's mission and efforts to preserve and promote traditional Native arts and cultural assets, knowledge systems, and lifeways in your community for the benefit of future generations as well as increase organizational sustainability.

Field to Basket will spotlight the intersection of art and agriculture while sustaining Haudenosaunee cultural heritage. By leveraging traditional basket making as an asset for education, and intergenerational knowledge transfer, we will fortify basketry’s role and relevance in contemporary Haudenosaunee life.

We would like to convert our main garden area into raised beds. These changes will make this space more accessible to our community members, especially, those in wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers. We also are installing a handicapped accessible bathroom near the events area.

Our program is designed to provide a safe space for the community to come learn about traditional Haudenosaunee agricultural methods of planting, growing, harvesting, seed keeping, food preparation, food storage, tool making, and crafting.

This project will address infrastructure needs for Oneida community members through the creation of a certified kitchen. Community members will have more access to indigenous foods and workshops to build their skills and confidence to process their own foods. Processed Oneida foods will then be shared with Chicago Region partners.