Tribal Seed Sovereignty and Rematriation: Fulfilling Our Responsibilities through Relational Work with Traditional Seeds of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation

This document aims to serve as a foundational resource on seed rematriation for the Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA). We are revitalizing our history and culture surrounding traditional seed varities. The following is a case study in methodology on seed rematriation. In particular, we share the process when it is co-developed between an Indigenous institution and a Federal Research Agency with the same intention to support Indigenous Food and Seed Sovereignty. Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish (NHS) College and USDA-Agricultural Research Service Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory are conducting Indigenous research utilizing participatory action research methods deeply rooted in relationality and respect to support Indigenous Seed Sovereignty through seed multiplication and rematriation. The collaboration aims to support the health of the Traditional Seed Cache located at NHS College by increasing the quantity and quality of seeds available to MHA Tribal members. Through a sharing circle, we have asked the Pawnee Seed Preservation Society, the University of Montana, and Montana State University to share the lessons they learned in seed sovereignty to complement our methodology. The result is a fabric woven together of genetic best practices, cultural best practices, chewing questions we have encountered, and lessons learned from the first year of our seed rematriation project. We hope that our reflection will be helpful to other groups pursuing a similar journey of rebuilding their kinship with their seed relatives.