Nebraskaland

October 2025 • Nebraskaland 33 a call from Nebraska. Ronnie O'Brien of Shelton was working at The Archway in Kearney at the time, and she was reaching out to the Pawnee about creating a historical program on Native gardening. Echo-Hawk had a better idea. Would O'Brien help the Pawnee bring their ancestral crops back home? The Seed Keepers That first year in 2004, O'Brien received 25 seeds of Pawnee eagle corn, Skidi red popcorn and yellow flint, and as the daughter of a corn farmer, she planted the seeds in the way Nebraskans typically do in late April. "I was all excited — and they all rotted in the ground. It was too early and too cold," O'Brien said. The next year, Echo-Hawk sent 25 more seeds to Nebraska, but told O'Brien that it was the last that she could spare. The Pawnee had to keep the few remaining seeds in Oklahoma for posterity if the experiment in Nebraska failed. Thankfully, the second crop survived. O'Brien said that it took about seven years for the corns' genetics to strengthen and take off. "Over time, as we built trust with [the Pawnee], they would make more seeds available … another family might come forward with something else out of their sacred bundle that hadn't been [planted] for a long time," O'Brien explained. This special partnership with the Pawnee has lasted over two decades, and during that time, the project has recruited 20-plus volunteer growers across Nebraska. It's become a network of gardeners exchanging their experiences and ideas on how to grow healthier, more robust crops each year. Together, they grow over 20 varieties of Pawnee corn, in addition to ancestral varieties of beans, squash, sunflower seeds and watermelon. In the fall, the crops are harvested and transported to Pawnee, Oklahoma, for use in ceremonial meals. Echo- Hawk hopes that by providing Native people access to foods that their DNA recognizes, the Pawnee could lead healthier lives and feel more connected with their history. One gardener rolling up his sleeves is Gene Hunt, who has been superintendent at Fort Kearny State Historical Park for 52 years. This is Hunt's 22nd season growing food for the Pawnee. Pawnee Gardens In August 2024, Hunt led the way across the green expanse of lawn at the state historical park. O'Brien, South-Central Regional Park Superintendent Laura Rose and I stopped at a rectangular patch of tendrilled, sprawling vines. Large, ground-covering leaves crowded our view, while yellow-orange, starfish- like flowers floated over the green foliage. The park superintendent sank to his knees and pushed away vines to reveal an elongated yellow-green- Omaha pumpkins can grow as large as 10 pounds, but most are closer to 6 pounds. It is a "pie pumpkin," a variety that is ideal for cooking.

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