The Cherokee Nation, the official organization of the unification of the tribes of Cherokee, received the right and privilege to be the first among the indigenous peoples of North America to make its contribution to the genetic seed vault on Svalbard. Also known as the doomsday Vault, is a special structure can store 2.5 billion seed indefinitely for future generations. It is now in the stage of filling after the formation of the underlying Fund’s various ethnic, political and cultural structures have the right to make your unique contribution.
In the case of Cherokee, on behalf of 370 000 surviving members of this tribe in the store will go sacred gifts – the seeds of ancient varieties of plants that have become iconic for this nation long before the landing on the continent, the first European travelers. This is sample selection, which was held thousands of years ago and since then the plants haven’t changed. The Indians didn’t need huge yields, and therefore were breeding slowly, in contrast to the Europeans.
Corn White eagle Cherokee
In the list of seeds to be sent is “Corn of the White eagle” – the fruit of which is used in the ceremonies of the tribe. Still there are “Long succulent beans Cherokee”, “Beans trail of tears”, “Black beans Stomach Turkey”, “Sweet zucchini Cherokee”. According to Cherokee beliefs, while the tribe is his sacred plant, it will live in spite of everything.
It is noteworthy that this is not the first contribution of seeds from ethnic Indians. In the 2017th doomsday Vault took the container of seeds from the Peruvian indigenous peoples. On the order of contributions from other Indians on both American continents.
Source — Anadisgoi