All Nebraska students can now learn about Indigenous foods at school

An expansion of a statewide farm-to-school program that brings Nebraska local food products to classrooms across the state is offering students and teachers an opportunity to learn about and try indigenous foods.

The Nebraska Department of Education has offered the Harvest of the Month program for many years that allows teachers to select a crop to focus on during any month. The collection of lessons, activities and recipes has highlighted a number of Nebraska crops, ranging from apples to beef to turnips. Now, through a collaboration with the Center for Rural Affairs, indigenous foods have been added to this list.

Nebraska teachers can access classroom resources on six Indigenous foods: corn, dry beans, summer squash, winter squash, bison and native herbs.

These resources are valuable for native and non-native students alike. For non-native students, these Harvest of the Month materials offer a tangible way to learn about Native cultures in Nebraska. For the state's Native students, they offer a chance to learn about and affirm their families' cultural heritage and history.

Corn, dry beans, summer squash, winter squash, bison, and native herbs were originally domesticated by Native peoples, and are still cultivated by both native and non-native people in Nebraska today.

The indigenous Harvest of the Month resources include language cards and history lessons for three different age groups that meet Nebraska state education standards. Newsletters for students to take home to their families are also available and cover a range of topics.

For example, a recent newsletter about Indigenous winter squash includes recipes for the squash and also apple muffins. Additionally, the publication shares the translation of "winter squash" into five Native languages spoken in Nebraska today: Dakota, Umonhon, Ponca, Hochunk, and Lakota.

Currently, 16 school districts across Nebraska have incorporated indigenous Harvest of the Month materials into their curriculum and meal planning. To learn more, visit education.ne.gov/ns/farm-to-school/harvest-of-the-month.