Ohkehtean-in Initiative

The Indigenous connection to nature is admired, learned from, and aclnowledged as being an invaluable understanding of the laws of this Earth. Unfortunately, this connection and the understanding that comes with it is not always adhered to.

As a consequence, resources Indigenous communities around the world have relied on, have been exploited, restricted, or have been developed into non-existence.

Shane Weeks, Co-Founder and Director or Research and Education of M.I.C. has led an initiative to re-establish culturally significant plants that were once commonly found on Long Island and easily accessible to Indigenous people.

Shane has helped to rematriate seeds of traditional foods back into the community, such as the Shinnecock and Montaukett Beans. He has worked with various farms and gardeners across Long Island to grow out various plants once used medicinally or as staple foods in order to transplant them or sow them back into the Indigenous communities and landscapes.

This initiative, now under the umbrella of M.I.C. not only looks forward towards the future generations of people, but also remembers the relationship we have with all of creation.

Gardening is a full time job in its own right and often under-resourced. We have been very fortunate and grateful that our partners have stepped up to support this work.