Corn
The one who stands tallCorn grows straight and strong, giving the climbing bean a stalk to hold on to.
What sustains our life, we care for in return.
Life Sustainers is a foundation rooted in Tionnhehkwen, the Mohawk idea of the gifts that keep us alive: food, water, plants, animals, the sun and the wind.
TIOHNHEHKWEN
- Registry ID
- 1139/G.37/C84/VOL1/SAAJP/A3
- Website
- lifesustainers.org
Tionnhehkwen
“What sustains our life”
A name that carries a responsibility
In Mohawk (Haudenosaunee) culture, Tionnhehkwen translates to “what sustains our life.” It has traditionally referred to corn, beans and squash — the Three Sisters — the staple crops at the heart of a traditional food system and way of farming.
The word reaches further than the field. It speaks of daily gratitude to everything that keeps us alive, and of the duty that comes with that gratitude: to protect and care for those gifts in return. Our foundation takes its name, and its purpose, from that idea.
The Three Sisters
Planted together, each crop helps the others grow. It is the clearest picture we know of a community that sustains itself.
Beans
The one who feeds the soilBeans climb the corn and return nitrogen to the earth, keeping the ground fertile for every plant.
Squash
The one who shelters the groundBroad squash leaves shade the soil, holding in moisture and keeping weeds away from her sisters.
No sister thrives alone. That is how we try to work: with partners, with neighbors, and with the land itself.
Gratitude, every day
Tionnhehkwen asks us to give thanks for the gifts that sustain life — and to remember that a gift creates a relationship.
Water
The first medicine, for every living thing.
Plants
Food, medicine and the air we breathe.
Animals
Fellow beings who share and shape the land.
The sun
Warmth and light that let the crops grow.
The wind
Moving seasons, rain and pollen across the earth.
We give thanks
Gratitude is where our work starts. Before we ask what the land can give, we acknowledge what it already gives, every single day.
We give back
Gratitude becomes action: protecting the water, caring for the soil, and making sure the gifts that sustain us today still sustain the generations to come.
What we work on
Our programs follow the same circle: grow food, protect what sustains it, and pass the knowledge on.
Food that sustains
Supporting community gardens and traditional, diverse ways of growing food, inspired by the Three Sisters.
Care for land and water
Stewardship projects that protect soil, water and the living things that depend on them.
Learning and gratitude
Sharing the meaning of Tionnhehkwen through education, so respect for nature becomes a daily habit.
Get involved
Every way of helping is a way of giving back. Choose the one that fits you.
Donate
Your gift helps fund our food, land and education programs. Write to us and we’ll share how to give.
Ask about donatingPartner with us
Schools, communities and organizations that share our values are welcome to work with us.
Start a conversationQuestions
Can’t find your answer? Email info@lifesustainers.org.
What does “Life Sustainers” mean?
It comes from Tionnhehkwen, a Mohawk word meaning “what sustains our life.” It traditionally names corn, beans and squash, and more broadly the relationship of gratitude and care between people and nature.
Is Life Sustainers a registered foundation?
Yes. Our registry ID is 1139/G.37/C84/VOL1/SAAJP/A3.
Are you connected to other groups with the same name?
The name Life Sustainers is also used by other organizations, including an NGO in Cameroon focused on sustainable development and humanitarian aid, a natural health retailer in Canada, and the monthly giving program of New Life Family Services. If you’re unsure who you’re dealing with, contact us directly at info@lifesustainers.org.
How can I support you?
You can donate, volunteer or partner with us. See Get involved, or send us a message below.
Write to us
We read every message and reply by email.
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Websitelifesustainers.org
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Registry ID1139/G.37/C84/VOL1/SAAJP/A3