Gtegé gises [Planting Moon]
Aside from being skilled hunters, fishermen and food gatherers, Potawatomi were successful agriculturalists. Villages used an ancient technique known as slash and burn to clear and convert forests into enriched agricultural fields. The size and pattern of fields utilized the land’s natural shape. Tools made of bone, stone and wood were used to cultivate a variety of crops. Foods planted during Gtegangises included bkanen (peanuts), penyek (potatoes), shegagoshek (onions), eshkwédemon (melons) and what we refer to as the Three Sisters (corn, beans and squash). Women were responsible for carrying out the agrarian duties, but it became a communal effort when preparing for ceremonial events.
Citations
Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center