The Eastern Shawnee Tribe’s Greenhouses annually grow several species of wildflowers for the purpose of rebuilding the biodiversity needed to support pollinators. There are three greenhouses in a valley surrounded by the Tribe’s recreational trails. In addition to the wildflowers, there are also several foods grown out in another greenhouse. The plants are used to educate children at the Early Learning Center on how food is produced as well as provide snacks for the children!

This activity has been facilitated through grant help from the USDA NRCS and the Euchee Butterfly Farm partnered with Monarch Watch. The restoration of critical monarch butterfly habitat in Oklahoma was the central task that started the wildflower production in 2016. The Tribe partnered with six other Nations in the state as well as the Butterfly Farm and Monarch Watch as part of the Tribal Environmental Action for Monarchs. Working together they have planted 35,000 milkweed plants and 28,000 native wildflowers.

As a result of the work putting wild flowering plants back out into our landscapes, the tribe has also begun work on seed banking. Several species of wildflower seeds are gathered and processed each year to continue to offer to the public and plant on tribal properties. With this work the Tribe has also has begun storing important food plants as well. Corn, beans, squash, tobacco, sunflowers, and other food plants are being grown for seed each year.

All of the work around these plant resources is very important for cultural revitalization and tribal self-determination. Many language and cultural specialists believe successful continuation of our culture relies upon continuing to surround ourselves with the species that are essential to the expression of our lifestyle. Several of the species attracted by the plants, or even the plant species themselves, are interwoven in the fabric that represents Shawnee cultural identity.

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