Agriculture and American Indians

Excerpts from the Introduction: Several centuries before the arrival of Columbus in the New World, the first Americans—Maya, Aztec, Chibcha, Inca—were involved in the development of a food supply. Today among the world's total food supply, about half the crops grown were first domesticated by American Indians before the time of Columbus. Indians also acquainted the white man with more than 80 domesticated plants including avocados, cacao, peanuts, peppers, pineapples, sweet or Irish potatoes, pumpkins or squashes, maple sugar, and tomatoes. “Few persons today recognize or are appreciative of the vast contributions made to the contemporary life by the American Indian. All aspects of Indian existence—agriculture, government, religion, trade, mythology, economics and arts and crafts—influenced white men at one time or another and helped to shape the destiny of each of the countries of the Western Hemisphere.” [Excerpt from: The Indian Heritage of America by Alvin M. Josephy, Jr.]. This special double issue of the Associates NAL Today brings together seven papers, selected bibliography, reviews, news, and legislation relating to the involvement of the American Indian in agriculture and will hopefully provide useful information and stimulation for further research.