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New Eastern Technical Assistance Specialist

We are fortunate to have Tina Square as the new technical assistance specialist for the Eastern region. She is a seed steward and local grower from the Mohawk

Nation of Akwesasne. Tina is passionate about preservation of ancestral

seed varieties, Native youth empowerment and Agricultural education in

cultural concepts.


Tina’s passion for growing began at the Ohero:kon Garden Project in the

spring of 2016. It was a youth-led garden initiative for selected past

Ohero:kon initiates to learn how to grow vegetables, mentor other youth

and provide fresh produce to the community. While also graduating

from the North Country Community College with an Associates degree

in Business Administration. From there she moved on to be an educator

at the Native North American Traveling College teaching Mohawk

language, cultural practices, Agriculture and traditional food

preparation. Leading the Io’nonhekwen Garden Project for youth from

the local school districts to work together to grow a traditional three

sisters garden and introduce traditional recipes to their palettes.

In 2019 she became the Assistant Farm Manager for the Strong

Roots Community Garden where the Akwesasne Farmers Market was

launched. She learned Marketing, Farmers Market sales, pest and

disease identification, and indoor and outdoor growing techniques.

Continuing to share education about Agricultural practices around the

community.


The Coronavirus pandemic affected all of Indian Country. In April

of 2020, Tina was hired at the Seneca Nation Agricultural Dept. where

she helped lead several community giveaways such as the seed

giveaway, the plant giveaway and the free community garden tilling

program.


Tina became the Eastern Region Technical Assistant with the IAC

in April of 2021. She looks forward to the connections that will be made

across the region and working to support agricultural endeavors and

ancestral practices in Indian Country.



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