06/06/2026
The Cherokee Nation became the first U.S. tribe to deposit traditional heirloom seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which is located on a remote Arctic island in Svalbard. This vault is often called the “doomsday seed bank” because it’s designed to protect the world’s crop diversity in case of disasters, climate change, or global crises.
To the Cherokee, these seeds are culturally significant crops that have been preserved and passed down by Cherokee people for generations. By storing them in Svalbard, the nation is protecting both biodiversity and Indigenous food heritage for the long term.