Braiding Seed Corn with Corn Husk Flowers

In this video, we show you how we select for seed corn and how we make our seed braids stand out with corn husk flowers. This video provides instructions for husking and braiding corn as well as for making corn husk flowers.
In addition to the foods we grow at our home, we are also part of Ohe∙láku (among the cornstalks), a co-operative of Oneida families growing corn together. Ohe∙láku is partnering with Tetwatunhatenyehse (we are changing our lives), a group dedicated to re-establishing traditional cultural teachings of rites of passage to help prepare our young ukwehuwe men and women for their transition into adulthood. This video, and future videos will help Ukwakwa, Ohe∙láku, and Tetwatunhatenyehse share what we have learned about taking care of our food relatives. A special thank you to Native American Agriculture Fund and Oneida Falling Leaves 4H program for providing funding and support for the Ohe∙láku and Tetwatunhatenyehse youth agriculture project that teaches youth about traditional farming practices.

[@imdbluesky1]

Thank you so much for putting together such insightful videos. At a time when people aren't really getting together and or just prefer to learn via video, your recorded teachings are great resources. That signature flower is just that extra special touch.

[@dankslug]

Thank you so much for sharing this 🙏🏻

[@ForgingFreedomTV]

Beautiful and practical. Thank you for sharing these gifts

[@debramorningstar5509]

Yawa for these videos, Becky. I am learning so much from you and your family!

[@tawnyalbrant]

My favorite video so far! Keep up the good work Unwakhwa💖

[@skyeshaw8106]

Thank you for your work in the world. Made me cry. Are you in Ontario?

[@Ukwakhwa]

Yaw^ko! We are on the Oneida Reservation in Wisconsin.

[@23aboy]

You should start a tiktok ✊🏾

[@23aboy]

I’m kanien’keha:ka and people are fascinated by this form of agriculture. You do such a great job explaining this. I have 5000+ followers. I’ll help boost your videos

[@Ukwakhwa]

@@23aboy I'll have to check it out. Our teen daughters are all over tiktok 😁

[@23aboy]

Ukwakhwa the kids always head of us on these things lol I’ve only been active for like 3 months. I’m mohawkcrystal on tiktok

[@vikkicaldwell4590]

I have to shell out my corn because the mice are decimating my hanging corn. I know what to fix for next year, but for this year I need ideas for storing the loose corn kernels - any ideas? Thanks!

[@Ukwakhwa]

We store ours in glass jars. If air can get in the jar, so can bugs.

[@vikkicaldwell4590]

how do you shell it all out when it comes time to process it into food or plant it as seed?

[@Ukwakhwa]

We hand shell for seed and we use an old fashioned hand crank corn sheller for everything else

[@peterwilms3510]

🥀💖🇳🇱💖🌷🥀🐴

[@razsbags]

Thanks. Can you tell me if there is a tradtional way of getting rid of rats without using poisons? Don’t to plant the corn until the rats & mice are gone.

[@Ukwakhwa]

We definitely don't use any poisons or other pesticides or herbicides. We haven't had an issue with rats, so I'm not sure how to answer your question. When we hang corn in the barn, we put pie tins on top of the braids. I'm not sure how "traditional" that is, but it seems to work. We also need to keep in mind that this food is not just for us. We need to share a bit with all of creation.

[@razsbags]

@@Ukwakhwa Thanks for that. Will try tins for some things. They were eating the lemons off the tree. Luckily I picked a fair few before they found the tree. Love your channel. :)

[@vikkicaldwell4590]

@@Ukwakhwa pie tins?? no wonder the mice are getting all my corn 🤦‍♀️