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It was the women’s responsibility to plant, care for and harvest their families’ crops. Men had the highest respect for the women and their agricultural practices. Planting the crops was never taken for granted. Each year the same traditions were practiced. Men were not allowed in the fields unless they were visiting the women of their family. The women often sang songs to their crops to help them grow.
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What kinds of crops did the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara grow? Maize (we call it corn), squash, sunflowers, beans and tobacco were the primary crops. Corn was a staple food in many Native American diets. Squash and beans were grown between the rows of corn. What nutrients the corn took from the soil, the beans returned. The corn acted like a trellis, holding the bean vines upright. Their crops were dried for use during the winter. Sunflowers were placed at the perimeter of the garden plots for beauty. Another staple of the ancients' diet was sunflower seeds. |
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