Indigenous Gardening
The 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.
Ways To Support
Some ways that you can support this initiative are:
• Providing Garden Spaces- One issue that many indigenous communities on Long Island have is lack of access to land.
• Providing garden tools
• Providing seeds/plants
To support this initiative you can also make a Tax-deductible donation via the link below or contact us for more information using the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Rematriated Seeds
Shinnecock Beans
Shinnecock Beans
Seed Saving Origin Story:
Shinnecock “Shaper” Bean
Shinnecock Nation
Given to me by Otto Shapper (Shaffer?), an Indigenous fisherman off of Long Island, his father (Grandfather) were farmers- named Shaper (later changed to shaper (Shaffer?) his family moved between Cost + NY, bringing bean from Shinnecock in 1870’s
Rematriation Story:
This bean was rematriated back to Shinnecock in 2021. Shane Weeks received the bean from Scott Chaskey, former head of Quail Hill Farms in Easthampton, NY. The bean made its way from the grandfather of the Cherokee seed saver in Kentucky through 2 generations back to Long Island.
Shane has been successfully growing this bean in his Ohke Creations Garden and with community partners since 2021. The beans are now being distributed throughout the Shinnecock community for growing.
Montaukett Beans
Montaukett Beans
Seed Saving Origin Story:
Wisowayuw Wochekum Poquauhock
Yellow-water/great unending thing -
Clam/closed hardshell - Yellow water clam
Original Name is Unknown, I named variety from stories told by elders withing family- Montauk-Montaukett, origin
Mixed/absorbed Shinnecock Nation
Were in L. Island prior to 1790 Census
Cato-Smith-Babcock Family
Southampton NY + relocated areas of Duchess County NY, :Cayahoga Falls Ohio
Rematriation Story:
This bean was rematriated back to Shinnecock in 2021. Shane Weeks received the bean from Ken Ettlinger, a Long Island seed saver. The bean made its way from the grandfather of the Cherokee seed saver in Kentucky through 2 generations back to Long Island.
Shane has been successfully growing this bean in his Ohke Creations Garden and with community partners since 2021. The beans are now being distributed throughout the Shinnecock community for growing.
Shinnecock Tomato
Shinnecock Tomato
Seed Saving Origin Story:
The Shinnecock Tomato was originally saved by a Shinnecock man named Lemont “Monty” Smith. Before his passing in the early ‘90s, Monty was able to save the seeds with the Seed Savers Exchange. The seeds had not been grown on Shinnecock since that time.
Rematriation Story:
In 2025, Shane Weeks asked Monty’s brother, Gerrod “Roddy” Smith if he would be able to retrieve the seeds from Seeds Savers Exchange. Roddy was successful in this and gave around 30 seeds to Shane. The seeds were successfully grown in 2025 at the Ohke Creations Gardens and are now being distributed to Shinnecock community members.
Corchaug Beans
Unnamed Montauket Beans
Corchaug Beans
Seed Saving Origin Story:
Shinnecock Indian Nation
“Corchaug Wampum Beans”
(Cutchogue) Wampum Beans”
Eastern Long Island, Originates since 1650’s – Farminf Family Ancestors Early Settlers at Cutchogue, north fork – Families Haines, Corklin – Not Grown at original location in Decades, collected in 1950’s – wagoner smith family, stored
#12364 relocated by Brewer Family
Rematriation Story:
In 2026 Shane Weeks met with the 3rd generation Cherokee seeds saver in Connecticut. During this visit the seed saver brought several varieties of seeds from around the country. Several of which origin stories derived from Long Island’s Indigenous peoples. Shane Was able to receive those seeds and is currently growing them out on his Ohke Creations Gardens and Farm on Shinnecock territory.
Unnamed Montauket Beans
Unnamed Montauket Beans
Unnamed Montauket Beans
Unnamed Montaukett Beans
Seed Saving Origin Story:
“Shinnecock” Nation
Bean was first collected in 1923, from a resident of East Long Island, who descended from ancestors of new haven colony From 1638 – 1664, farmers/whalers living with Montaukett – Original Label was Destroyed, but labled/marked ‘Shinnecock’ Collected by Dr. C.Harmon, Bean is believed to be montauket or possibly Pequot, not Shinnecock
#12335 Came to us by 83 yr old son Dr. Harmon
Rematriation Story:
In 2026 Shane Weeks met with the 3rd generation Cherokee seeds saver in Connecticut. During this visit the seed saver brought several varieties of seeds from around the country. Several of which origin stories derived from Long Island’s Indigenous peoples. Shane Was able to receive those seeds and is currently growing them out on his Ohke Creations Gardens and Farm on Shinnecock territory.
Unkechaug Squash
Unnamed Montauket Beans
Unnamed Montauket Beans
Unkechaug Squash
Seed Saving Origin Story:
‘Medicine Squash’ ‘Medicine Gourd’ originally known as Medicine woman’s Rattle Squash
Translated – pauwausq-kechissunkisq – (med. Woman-great old woman sachem) Quonooasquash (gourds) or also known Pakwasima’n (squash), family is matrilineally linked, squash’ history pre-dates any knowledge of true origin – family descend from the Quiripi speaking tribes: Schaghticoke – Unkechaug + Golden Hill Paugussett Mauusey – Hayward – George Families originally Kent Area Connecticut –
#MIC10
Rematriation Story:
In 2026 Shane Weeks met with the 3rd generation Cherokee seeds saver in Connecticut. During this visit the seed saver brought several varieties of seeds from around the country. Several of which origin stories derived from Long Island’s Indigenous peoples. Shane Was able to receive those seeds and is currently growing them out on his Ohke Creations Gardens and Farm on Shinnecock territory.
Rendezvous Succotash Beans
Rendezvous Succotash Beans
Rendezvous Succotash Beans
Rendezvous Succotash Beans
Seed Saving Origin Story:
“Rendezvous Succotash” Succotash Bean variety a bean given to me in the early 1990’s in Ashville North Carolina, by my late friend, Dennis Banks, who was the Co-Founder + Leader of the American Indian Movement – Banks Collected bean in N.Y. in the 1980’s
#MIC13
Rematriation Story:
In 2026 Shane Weeks met with the 3rd generation Cherokee seeds saver in Connecticut. During this visit the seed saver brought several varieties of seeds from around the country. Several of which origin stories derived from Long Island’s Indigenous peoples. Shane Was able to receive those seeds and is currently growing them out on his Ohke Creations Gardens and Farm on Shinnecock territory.
Our Ohkehtean-in Initiative Partners
Ohke Creations Gardens
Based on the Shinnecock Territory in Southampton, NY, Shane Weeks dedicates his time to growing some of the key species here on his traditional territory.
Queens Botanical Garden
Located in Flushing, Queens, NY, the Queens Botanical Garden is a public curated garden that offers educational programs, community engagement and more.
The Queens Botanical Garden has been a consistent partner in offering space for education and grow out of our culture and seeds.
Cross Roads Farm
Crossroads Farm is a 5 acre farm located on Long Island in Malverne, NY.
Crossroads Farm has facilitated the grow out of many key species as part of the Ohkehtean-in Initiative.
Long House Reserve
Longhouse Reserve is a particular gem of vibrant and magical publicly accessible gardens located on the East End of Long Island in Easthampton, NY.
Longhouse has created a special space for our community to grow out important species as part of the Ohketean-in Initiative.