Story of the Buffalo Bird Woman

Frank Kutka

On March 24, 6:30-8 pm, the Door County Master Gardeners Association will feature Frank Kutka presenting the fascinating story of Maxidiwiac, or Buffalo Bird Woman. Born in 1839, she became a renowned farmer on the Fort Berthold Reservation in western North Dakota because she and the women in her family were able to raise huge crops for trade during a period of massive changes for the Hidatsa and other local tribes. Kutka will discuss her life and work and compare Hidatsa and other approaches to growing crops and saving seeds. 

This lecture, presented in collaboration with the Door County Seed Library and Crossroads at Big Creek, will be an in-person event at Crossroads, 2041 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay. Masking and social distancing will be required. 

Kutka is a faculty member of the College of Menominee Nation, where he’s working to develop a degree program in sustainable agriculture. He’s also an independent plant breeder and manages the Corn Culture Facebook blog. Learn more about this and other Master Gardeners programs at dcmga.org.