Cherokee Nation Is First U.S. Tribe To Store Seeds In 'Doomsday' Vault

The Cherokee Nation is preserving its crop genetics by depositing seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. This marks the first deposit by a US tribe. The vault, located in a mountain on the Norwegian island of Svalbard, stores seeds at -18°C to protect them from disasters. The vault has been used once, during the Syrian civil war, to restore gene banks. The Cherokee Nation's deposit includes corn, beans, and squash, known as the 'three sisters,' and encourages other tribes to store seeds for future benefit.

How does the storage environment of the seed vault help in preserving seeds?

What message is the Cherokee Nation conveying to other tribes regarding seed preservation?