Start Date

21-4-2021 1:45 PM

End Date

21-4-2021 1:54 PM

Description

What are the ecological and cultural connections between squash bees, African American, and Native American food cultures? Two subfamilies (Peponapis and Xenoglossa) were identified as bees of interest because their host plants (Cucurbita) could be connected to food cultures. Cucurbita was found to be a common host squash species found throughout North and South America. Searches in academic literature databases connected cultural and ecological knowledge to agricultural history of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Skilled slave labor and products were not the only trading goods; various plants were transplanted during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.Throughout history squash became more integrated in food culture as seen throughout a series of cookbooks created by Native and African American people. Phylogenetic history of squash bees and Cucurbita connects both groups to species in Africa with divergence events caused by dispersal into milder climates. This research connects squash bees to food cultures, and the possible consequences that today’s environmental conditions have on cultural food systems.

Comments

Presented at the 3rd International Conference of the YEAH

SDG Theme: SDG 3 - Good Health & Wellbeing, SDG 4- Quality Education, SDG 11 -Sustainable Cities & Communities

Publication Title

Conference Proceedings for The 3rd Global Virtual Conference of the Youth Environmental Alliance in Higher Education

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Apr 21st, 1:45 PM Apr 21st, 1:54 PM

Session 2F Bees at the Table: Ecological and Cultural Connections between African American and Native American Cuisines

What are the ecological and cultural connections between squash bees, African American, and Native American food cultures? Two subfamilies (Peponapis and Xenoglossa) were identified as bees of interest because their host plants (Cucurbita) could be connected to food cultures. Cucurbita was found to be a common host squash species found throughout North and South America. Searches in academic literature databases connected cultural and ecological knowledge to agricultural history of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Skilled slave labor and products were not the only trading goods; various plants were transplanted during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.Throughout history squash became more integrated in food culture as seen throughout a series of cookbooks created by Native and African American people. Phylogenetic history of squash bees and Cucurbita connects both groups to species in Africa with divergence events caused by dispersal into milder climates. This research connects squash bees to food cultures, and the possible consequences that today’s environmental conditions have on cultural food systems.