Abenaki Foodways in Bethel
Georgia Grzywacz, Development Director of Mahoosuc Land Trust, helps to guide Telstar seventh grade students with taking observations and measurements of the Three-Sisters garden space." Photo by Nickie Sekera for Sunlight Media Collective.
Since receiving the Abenaki Foodways Project Toolkit from South Hero Land Trust, educators at Telstar Middle/High School have been partnering with the Mahoosuc Land Trust (MLT) to establish an educational Three Sisters garden at MLT’s Habitat For All garden. What began with the planting of Skunk Beans, Norrigewock Beans, and King Philip Corn alongside some already-established Winter squash, has grown into a larger plan for an integrated, cross-curricular program exploring the many lessons embedded in Three Sisters gardening and cooking.
Telstar educators collaborated with MLT and advisors from the Abenaki Foodways Project to create educational garden signage explaining the project’s purpose, the significance of the seeds, and the meaning of the Three Sisters. These signs are now on display at the garden. With our first growing season complete, we look forward to expanding the project next year and engaging even more students and subject areas.
Squash-inspired mixed media artwork created by a seventh-grade Community Art student.
So far this year, 7th grade students have taken part in observing, photographing, measuring, volunteering, harvesting, and seed saving at the garden. In mid-September, they participated in a field trip to the Habitat For All Garden, where they learned about the significance of the Three Sisters story to Wabanaki and Abenaki Nations. During the visit, students recorded measurements and observations that will later be used in Math class to create a scale diagram of the garden.
Those diagrams and field notes will then support Science class projects, where students will design proposed planting plans for the 2026 growing season after learning about Wabanaki companion planting techniques. In Spring 2026, students will present their proposals to representatives from MLT, who will select one or more winning designs. The winning plan will then be handed off to 6th grade Science, whose students will prepare the soil and plant the next season’s garden during a field trip in late May or early June. When those same students return as 7th graders in the fall, they’ll observe and harvest plants they helped sow and repeat the process in their classes — bringing the cycle full circle.
In Community Art class, 7th grade students learned about legal, ethical, and technical considerations of visual storytelling to help them respectfully document the project and highlight the beauty and value of the Three Sisters. Using drawing, painting, photography, cyanotype, digital design, and ceramics, they created artworks inspired by the Three Sisters in collaboration with MLT. We displayed this art alongside a visit from Wabanaki Foodways Knowledge Sharers and Culinary Artists.
Students separating corn from the cob. Photo by Nickie Sekera for Sunlight Media Collective.
This week here at Telstar in Bethel (traditional Abenaki territory) we had a great 2-day school program with Jasmine Thompson-Tintor (Panawahpskek/Penobscot) and Jacques Watso (Abenaki) of Odanak to engage with the students about Wabanaki foodways and culture.
In this program, Telstar Middle and High School students learned about historical and contemporary Wabanaki food practices, including Three Sisters companion planting (corn, beans & squash), and they enjoyed a variety of traditional Abenaki foods, including Sagamité, a corn and bean soup prepared by Jacques - many students said it was the best soup they’d ever tasted!
Students also helped separate flint corn from the cob and mill it through a grinder to make cornmeal, which was then made into small balls of tasty cornbread treats for everyone. In addition to all the delicious foods, students also experienced traditional drumming, singing, and dancing, making for a highly engaging and joyful program. We are so grateful to Jazz and Jacques for their generous sharing of time, knowledge, and culture!
Martin Gill (Abenaki), Jasmine Thompson-Tintor (Panawahpskek/Penobscot) and Jacques Watso (Abenaki). Photo by Nickie Sekera for Sunlight Media Collective.
Special thanks to BAAM–Bethel Area Arts & Music, Mahoosuc Land Trust, The Local Food Connection, Wabanaki Studies Education, the National Council for History Education, Sunlight Media Collective, and South Hero Land Trust for their support and collaboration. We are also grateful for the presence and support of Abenaki Council member Martin Gill, as well as several community volunteers.
Like the Three Sisters, this learning experience was made possible through reciprocal relationships that support shared growth. We look forward to future collaborations connecting students with Wabanaki communities, foodways, and culture.
Melissa Prescott
Visual Art Teacher
Telstar Middle School