The 3 Sisters
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In a number of Indigenous communities, corn, squash and bean are called the "Three Sisters."
When planted side by side, these three crops help each other during growth, resulting in better yields at harvest. The Three Sisters crop model, were once widely used by a number of First Nations in the Great Lakes –St. Lawrence Lowlands region. By the time Europeans reached the shores of the Americas, the Indigenous peoples of the northern continent had developed food systems, placing corn in small hills, planting beans around them and interspersing squash throughout of the field. Beans naturally absorb nitrogen from the air and convert it to nitrates, fertilizing the soil for the corn and squash. In return, they are supported by winding around the corn stalks. The squash leaves provide ground cover between the corn and beans, preventing weeds from taking over the field. These three plants thrive together better than when they are planted alone. Notes from: Agriculture Canada and USDA National Agricultural Library |
Photo: https://www.visitglenarbor.com/event/the-3-sisters-indigenous-agriculture/
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The 3 Sisters are 3 Ojibwe Pony mares that came to our neighbour Aurora Farms in 2017. They were renamed in a naming ceremony with Mike Pierre who gave them the Ojibwe names Mandamin (corn), Mashkodesimin (beans), and Okosimaan (squash) to represent the traditional agriculture of the Anishinaabe people of the Red River Valley and beyond.
The 3 Sisters came to Sagehill to help us expand the Spirit Horse Project and they are also here to help us share the teachings of horses with others including cooperation, compassion community, communication and leadership.
The 3 Sisters came to Sagehill to help us expand the Spirit Horse Project and they are also here to help us share the teachings of horses with others including cooperation, compassion community, communication and leadership.
Meet the 3 Sisters
The 3 Sisters are the keystone of the Spirit Horse Project at Sagehill Stables. Our goal is to help save this indigenous breed by aiding in the rebreeding efforts. Having these mares as part of the breeding program will help in the continued growth of the Ojibwe herd in North America.
Learn about the Spirit Horse Project
Learn about the Spirit Horse Project
Story Telling and Healing Beyond Words with the 3 Sisters
Visit the 3 Sisters, groom and hear the story of the Ojibwe Pony. Learn about horse behavior and safety, and we care for the 3 Sisters and the Spirit Horse Project at Sagehill Stables. This activity is done indoors in our heated arena in the winter. We can accommodate groups of up to 65 people!
1-hr grooming with the 3 sisters and story telling session guided by our coaches and Spirit Horse volunteers.
For large groups we will add more horses for grooming and visiting as well.
Cost: $150 + GST
Visit the 3 Sisters, groom and hear the story of the Ojibwe Pony. Learn about horse behavior and safety, and we care for the 3 Sisters and the Spirit Horse Project at Sagehill Stables. This activity is done indoors in our heated arena in the winter. We can accommodate groups of up to 65 people!
1-hr grooming with the 3 sisters and story telling session guided by our coaches and Spirit Horse volunteers.
For large groups we will add more horses for grooming and visiting as well.
Cost: $150 + GST
Team Building and Leadership Development with the 3 Sisters
Our 3 Sisters are great teachers of teamwork and leadership. We use the 3 Sisters in our teambuilding and leadership development programs to develop the skills needed to be good co-workers, leaders and teachers in our communities. We have 1/2 and full day workshops, as well as weekly (6 to 12 weeks) skill building programs where participants come for 1.5 hours to develop confidence and leadership skills with our horses including the 3 sisters. Our 1/2 and full day workshops are designed for those in a workplace or in a team scenario together already, while the weekly programs are designed for groups of individuals such as groups of women, men, or youth that are looking to get into the workplace or improve themselves and their skills for a future goal. Ages for the weekly skill building programs can be as young as 9 years old.
Teambuilding Workshop info can be found here
For more info and prices on our weekly skill building programs please inquire via email at [email protected]
The 3 Sisters Horse Care for Rural Communities Program
The 3 Sisters of Agriculture is an important teaching for us to remember that we need to keep our communities connected through story telling and opportunities for learning and growth. There are many communities who could benefit from experiencing and caring for horses to teach cooperation, compassion community, communication and leadership. However, the knowledge and skills required to keep horses according to our current standards of horse health and welfare is something that may not have been passed down in generations as the use of horses in day-to-day lives has become limited since the start of the industrial revolution.
Our 3-Sisters Horse Care course is designed to teach the basics of horse handling and care to meet todays standards of horse health and welfare. This intensive 5-day course includes:
- hands on daily training in horse handling and care
- horse feeds and feeding
- understanding the basics of farrier and vet care
- horse first aid basics
- horse behavior and training with welfare in mind
- housing, property and pasture management
- introduction to riding and driving
- trailering safety
- barn and business management
- how to teach others and design your programs
This 5 day course is held 3 times a year and the 5 day program is $500 + GST. The program is full days including opportunities in the evenings for hands on learning held at our location at Sagehill Stables in Winnipeg.
This program is ideal for anyone wanting to have horses on their property or bring horses into their community, starting a horse business or hoping to work in the equine industry.
We would also like to give communities the opportunity to bring the 3 Sisters into their communities to teach others. We can work with your community to bring the 3 Sisters into the community to teach the 1 week course in person, along with meet and greets for community members in the evenings.
Upcoming 2025 course dates at the Sagehill Stables location:
Read more here
Our 3 Sisters are great teachers of teamwork and leadership. We use the 3 Sisters in our teambuilding and leadership development programs to develop the skills needed to be good co-workers, leaders and teachers in our communities. We have 1/2 and full day workshops, as well as weekly (6 to 12 weeks) skill building programs where participants come for 1.5 hours to develop confidence and leadership skills with our horses including the 3 sisters. Our 1/2 and full day workshops are designed for those in a workplace or in a team scenario together already, while the weekly programs are designed for groups of individuals such as groups of women, men, or youth that are looking to get into the workplace or improve themselves and their skills for a future goal. Ages for the weekly skill building programs can be as young as 9 years old.
Teambuilding Workshop info can be found here
For more info and prices on our weekly skill building programs please inquire via email at [email protected]
The 3 Sisters Horse Care for Rural Communities Program
The 3 Sisters of Agriculture is an important teaching for us to remember that we need to keep our communities connected through story telling and opportunities for learning and growth. There are many communities who could benefit from experiencing and caring for horses to teach cooperation, compassion community, communication and leadership. However, the knowledge and skills required to keep horses according to our current standards of horse health and welfare is something that may not have been passed down in generations as the use of horses in day-to-day lives has become limited since the start of the industrial revolution.
Our 3-Sisters Horse Care course is designed to teach the basics of horse handling and care to meet todays standards of horse health and welfare. This intensive 5-day course includes:
- hands on daily training in horse handling and care
- horse feeds and feeding
- understanding the basics of farrier and vet care
- horse first aid basics
- horse behavior and training with welfare in mind
- housing, property and pasture management
- introduction to riding and driving
- trailering safety
- barn and business management
- how to teach others and design your programs
This 5 day course is held 3 times a year and the 5 day program is $500 + GST. The program is full days including opportunities in the evenings for hands on learning held at our location at Sagehill Stables in Winnipeg.
This program is ideal for anyone wanting to have horses on their property or bring horses into their community, starting a horse business or hoping to work in the equine industry.
We would also like to give communities the opportunity to bring the 3 Sisters into their communities to teach others. We can work with your community to bring the 3 Sisters into the community to teach the 1 week course in person, along with meet and greets for community members in the evenings.
Upcoming 2025 course dates at the Sagehill Stables location:
- April 31st to May 4th
- June 23rd to 27th
- August 25th to 29th
Read more here
