Food

Three Sisters

For thousands of years, many tribes across the US grew their own food. Corn, beans and zucchini were planted together – Native Americans called them the "Three Sisters." Each plant helps the others grow, and this farming tradition is still important in many tribes' cultures today. (Native American Agriculture Fund)

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Hunting
You might think that today Native Americans still hunt buffalo and live off the land – just like in old movies. But that's not what everyday life looks like. Most Native Americans today shop at normal supermarkets and eat the same food as everyone else.

 

Problem
The problem is that many of them can't easily get to one. Native communities have challenges like long distances to supermarkets, not enough transportation, and living in food deserts (Bridge Michigan). Around 25% of Native Americans experience food insecurity. That means they don't always have enough to eat. (Indian Health Service, U.S. Government)