by Chief Nancy Millette Doucet
It is written throughout history about the Indians of the Koas and planting of our corn in the meadows. Now with that said, the corn was shared by the Indians to the settlers. Let’s remind everyone that here in the Koas the Jesuits came in 1675 and Christianity was woven into our heritage. Not only were the Indians already pretty much willing to be generous on their merits, but the influence of the Jesuits became woven into our society.
Over the years the Greene Family kept the corn growing generation- after-generation carefully safe guarding it from cross pollination. Later they shared the corn with Sarah and Charlie Calley who grew it for over 35 years. Once I met the Calley’s, they gifted the corn back to me as Chief of the Koasek of the Koas Abenaki and rightful owners of the Koasek Corn. Now with all that said, we have shared our corn seed with others and we have tried to instill that the corn must not be cross-pollinated. This is a significant part of our history and is documented well and an aspect that stands out in our heritage and culture.
The Koasek Corn goes full circle, gifted back to Sarah Calley to gift to the Newbury Elementary School to grow in the school garden.
