Choctaws who are interested in obtaining the heirloom seeds of their ancestors should apply soon as supplies are limited. The Chahta heirloom seeds that sprout fruit, and vegetables are different from store-bought produce in that they are natural seeds the way nature intended them to be grown. The fruits and vegetables produced from the heirloom seeds are packed with vitamins and minerals that the ancestral Choctaw tribes needed to stave off illness and provided the energy to hunt and forage food for the tribe.
Applications for the Growing Hope program are accepted January through April each year. Seeds will be mailed to applicants on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
Choctaw ancestors knew the importance of our native seeds to grow the crops that would feed their tribe and to carry on the traditional foods that Chahta knew best.
Even in the toughest times of colonization and during the Trail of Tears our Choctaw ancestors would hide their heirloom seeds to ensure that food would be plentiful, and the tribe did not have to rely on the U.S. government. It was the tribe’s way of safeguarding its sovereignty and independence so future generations of Chahta could live, thrive and survive with its heritage intact.
That tradition persists with the Choctaw Growing Hope program that distributes, to tribal members, the heirloom seeds that Chahta ancestors planted to keep the tribe fed and healthy.
According to a recent news story, Jacqueline Putman, Growing Hope program coordinator, explained that traditional Choctaw produce is in many ways more nutritious than other popular foods in grocery stores, and that health is as important to the nation as food sovereignty.
Some of the heirloom seeds were even sent to space on a NASA mission in 2024. Those “space seeds” were planted at Jones Academy and were observed by students for a scientific experiment.
Interest in the Choctaw heirloom seed program is strong; it’s important that those of you who would like to participate in this year’s program, apply now.
It is good to know that something so important to our Chahta tribe is alive and strong and what was coveted so much that it was hidden to ensure our survival is still available today. These heirloom seeds are more than just a food source — they are the very building blocks of the Choctaw Nation. I am so proud the heirloom seeds are available to ensure the health and well-being of future Chahta generations for many years to come.
