Edible Western NY

Corn, Art and the Seneca Nation

• The Living Longhouse and ancient grinding stone at the Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center in Salamanca, NY. Photo by Maurice John, Jr.

• Corn braiding is a traditional way of drying corn, one of the main food sources of the Haudenosaunee for thousands of years. Every single part of the corn plant is used: The stalk helped beans to grow, the husks were woven to make different things throughout the village, and even the cobs were used as ancient fire starters. Today, corn braiding is still used for its original purpose: to dry out the corn in preparation for consumption.

• Corn husk doll made by a Seneca artist. Photo provided by the Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center.

• Sierra Parker and an arrangement of corn husk flowers. Photo by Vanessa Parker.

• The Seneca Iroquois National Museum and Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center in Salamanca, NY.