Native American Three Sisters Soup

 

Lately, I have been fascinated with the original inhabitants of the United States.  I was made aware of the conditions on the reservation and how the Native Americans were not only forced onto the reservations with land that was barren and empty but unable to hunt and gather their original foods.  Instead of eating the healthy food they had lived on for thousands of years, they were forced to become dependent on government subsidies and eat heavily processed and canned foods.  Sadly, the average life expectancy on the reservation was around 45 during the 1960s.  With all of our technological advances, the internet finally has reached the reservation and many Native Americans are finally telling their side of the story, of what actually happened to them and generations of boarding school trauma in addition to forced genocide.  But what was part of the original Native diet?  The original Native diet was high in nutrients and fiber and extremely healthy.  The native people in the United States were fit and healthy but after they started eating the highly processed foods supplied by the government, they soon suffered high rates of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.  But what about this Three Sisters Soup?  There is an interesting story behind this soup that is fascinating as we learn that the Three Sisters refer to the relationship between beans, corn, and squash.  The corn stalks were planted in the center, and the beans used the corn stalks as a post to grow.  The squash provided shade and cover on the ground for the corn and beans to grow.  The Iriquois have their own unique story about the three sisters.

The Kanienkehaka (Iroquois) Legend of the Three Sisters

The term “Three Sisters” emerged from the Iroquois creation myth. It was said that the earth began when “Sky Woman” who lived in the upper world peered through a hole in the sky and fell through to an endless sea. The animals saw her coming, so they took the soil from the bottom of the sea and spread it onto the back of a giant turtle to provide a safe place for her to land. This “Turtle Island” is now what we call North America.  Sky woman had become pregnant before she fell. When she landed, she gave birth to a daughter. When the daughter grew into a young woman, she also became pregnant (by the West wind). She died while giving birth to twin boys. Sky Woman buried her daughter in the “new earth.” From her grave grew three sacred plants—corn, beans, and squash. These plants provided food for her sons, and later, for all of humanity. These special gifts ensured the survival of the Iroquois people.
Source:  Erney, Diana. 1996. Long live the Three Sisters. Organic Gardening. November.p.37-40.

Recipe:

2 cups onions, diced

6 cups water

2 cans diced tomatoes, no salt added (15 ounce can)

6 cups red skinned potatoes, cubed

1 can tomato sauce, no salt added (15 ounce can)

1 cup corn, frozen

1 yellow squash, diced

1 can light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed (15 ounce can)

1/2 can quick cooking barley

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 tsp black pepper

In a large stockpot, add all ingredients.  Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes until the potatoes are soft.  Serve immediately.