High School Student Wins Science Fair Proves Native American Recipe Kills Cancer Cells in Vitro

In 2017, Destany “Sky” Pete, a high school student from the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, won her regional science fair by demonstrating that a traditional Native American recipe could inhibit cancer cell growth.

Her project focused on chokecherry pudding, a dish made with crushed chokecherry seeds, which her community’s elders believed had health benefits.

Pete collaborated with Dr. Ken Cornell, a biochemistry professor at Boise State University, to test different chokecherry preparations on uterine sarcoma cancer cells. The results revealed that only the traditionally prepared pudding, which included the crushed seeds, showed significant cancer-inhibiting properties.

This discovery highlighted the potential medicinal value of Indigenous foods and connected traditional knowledge with modern scientific research. Pete’s work not only demonstrated the importance of preserving cultural heritage but also showed how it could help address contemporary health challenges.