Ojibwa+Wild+Rice+Harvests+in+Minnesota

 **Ojibwa Wild Rice Harvests in Minnesota ** **The Harvest ** The Ojibwa wild rice harvest takes place in September on the lakes throughout northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada. The harvesters go out with two harvesters per canoe. One harvester stands in the stern and uses a pole to navigate through the clusters of wild rice plants. (Bottom lLeft Photo) The second harvester sits in the middle of the canoe, using two knockers to guide the wild rice into the canoe. The knockers are light weight to prevent the harvesters arm from getting tired. (Photos Below) The wild rice remains in its hull as it is collected on the bottom of the canoe. The canoe was used because it could glide over the wild rice plants causing little to no damage. The Ojibwa tribe also focuses on making sure the canoe is clean and suitable to hold the wild rice. They also make sure to wear proper clean clothing when out harvesting. The Ojibwa tribe harvest wild rice to survive. For example the unemployment rate on the White Earth Indian Reservation is near 50 percent. The Ojibwa tribe sees the wild rice harvest as a necessity to survive. Every year a few hundred Ojibwa harvesters set out on the lakes, and more than 50,000 pounds of wild rice. Then they intern sell most of the wild rice to local mills to be processed and sold. The Ojibwa harvest in muddy shallows they call Manoomin, or “good berry.” The White Earth Land Recovery Project was set up to preserve the harvesting area for the Ojibwa tribe. Several other preservation projects have been implemented throughout the United States and Canada, stating that only the Native Tribes in the area can harvest the wild rice.

 

The Ojibwa People and the Wild Rice Harvest At Rice Lake in northern Minnesota **Drying and Parching ** The freshly harvested wild rice must be dried immediately after the harvest in order to prevent mold and other bacteria from forming on the wild rice. The Ojibwa traditionally use sheets of birch bark, to spread the rice out to dry, and the women typically pick out all the twigs, and bugs that might be left from the harvest. (Bottom Left Photo) After the rice has ample time to dry, the Ojibwa tribe parches or roasts the rice. This removes most of the moisture in the rice and allows the tribe to preserve it for later use. Parching also prevented the wild rice from re-sprouting. (Bottom Right Photo)

 

The Ojibwa People and the Wild Rice Harvest At Rice Lake in northern Minnesota **Hulling and Winnowing ** After the rice has been parched the tribe would remove the hull from the wild rice. The traditional way of doing this was digging a pit in the ground and placing the rice in animal hide. Then wood planks would prevent the huller from hitting the ground. The hullers were typically light women, who used special moccasins to prevent from crushing the rice. Huller also utilized two sticks dug into the ground by the side of the pit to hoist themselves up and lightly stepping, or dancing on the wild rice bed the hulls were removed. (Bottom Left Photo) After hulling the rice the Ojibwa tribe would winnow out the loose hulls from the rice by using birch bark and bass wood fibers. After the winnowing process the rice was ready to be served or stored for later use. (Bottom Right Photo)

 

The Ojibwa People and the Wild Rice Harvest At Rice Lake in northern Minnesota ** The Mills ** Once the harvest for the day is complete the Ojibwa harvesters sell most of their wild rice to local mills. The Ojibwa use to roast the rice over a fire, and remove the hulls by hand, but with new technology the mills are able to roast and remove the hulls with machines. The mill then packages the rice to be sold at specialty stores around the US. The money the mill pays the harvesters is marginal for the work they must put in to harvest the rice. On today’s reservations the average wage a mill pays for wild rice is between $1.25 and $2.00. The harvesters use the money to provide for their families.

** How Wild Rice has Influenced Tribal Life ** Wild Ricing or as known by the Ojibwa tribe as Manoominike, has been a part of their culture for hundreds of years, and has played a vital role in tribal life. The Ojibwa tribe believes that the wild rice has spiritual attributes, and stories about the harvesting of wild rice have been passed down from generation to generation. The wild rice is commonly served during ceremonies and social interactions.

**As a Food Source ** The Ojibwa rely on the wild rice as one of their primary food sources. The species of wild rice typically harvested as a grain is the Zizania Palustris. The Native Americans use a harvesting technique where they canoe into a stand of wild rice plants, bending the stalk with a wooden stick called a knocker, and collect the seeds into the canoe. The wild rice grain only requires a gentle combing with the knocker to dislodge the grain.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16pt;">The Knocker Regulations ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">A knocker is a wooden stick used in the wild rice harvest, and the size and dimensions are regulated by state and tribal law. For example by Minnesota law knockers can only be 1 inch in diameter, 30 inches in length, and must weigh one pound.

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**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">References ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">Wilcox, Lauren. "Going With the Grain | People & Places | Smithsonian Magazine." //History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian Magazine//. 2007. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article depicts the traditions of the Ojibwa tribe. It outlines the stories and culture present in the wild rice harvest of the tribe.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Harvesting & Processing of Ojibwe Wild Rice." //Manoomin - Ojibwe Wild Rice Sales and Recipes//. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article describes in detail the way the Ojibwa tribe harvest the wild rice.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">100, About A.d. "Ojibwe Indians." //Department of Geography | Michigan State University//. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. < <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article focuses on the history of the Ojibwa tribe. It depicts how they have moved over time until they reached their current location in Minnesota.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge." //U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home//. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article focuses on the process from start to finish of a wild rice harvest. It shows the techniques used in the harvests.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Information about Wild Rice." //Minnesota Wild Rice//. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article focuses on the production of wild rice. It contains content about the different types of rice and the process of harvesting it.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"White Earth Land Recovery Project." //Native Harvest | White Earth Land Recovery Project//. 2005. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. <[|http://nativeharvest.com]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article focuses on the White Earth Land Recovery Project. It gives some information about what is included in the recovery project along with some items you can purchase from the reservation.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">Oelke, Ervin A. "Wild Rice: Domestication of a Native North AmericanGenus." //Wild Rice: Domestication of a Native North American Genus//. 1992. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article shows how wild rice was introduced to the Native Americans hundreds of years ago.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Wild Rice Harvesting." //Wisconsin Historical Society//. 2011. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. <[] >. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This web site has links to other pages that give information of the wild rice production of the Ojibwa and other Native American tribes.

//<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Indian Wild Rice, Authentic Hand Harvested, from Chippewa Lakes //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article discusses how the Native Americans still harvest wild rice in the traditional way. It also describes how it is harvested and treated.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">Edition, Morning. "Ricing Time: Harvesting on the Lakes of White Earth : NPR." //NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article gives first hand stories of Native Americans who have harvested wild rice, and who have cooked with it in their daily lives.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"How to Harvest Wild Rice - WikiHow." //WikiHow - The How-to Manual That You Can Edit//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article goes step by step in the harvesting process of wild rice. The steps aren't very detailed but it gives the reader a general idea of how a wild rice havrvest works.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">Statute, Minnesota. "Wild Rice." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article discusses the different variety of wild rice present throughout the US. It also discusses the harvesting of the wild rice.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"The Ojibwe Peoples and Their Culture." //Dream Catchers of the Seventh Fire Dream Catcher Heritage Collection//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article focuses on the culture of the Ojibwa tribe. It discusses their beliefs and many stories that have been passed down from generation to generation.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Ojibwe Culture - Indian Country Wisconsin." //Milwaukee Public Museum//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article depicts the Ojibwe indian culture throughout history and into present times.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">Germaine, Rick St. "Ojibwe Wild Rice Harvesting May Be a Dying Tradition." //Index Page 1 of Main Web Page to RLNN.COM//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article focuses in on how the wild rice harvest of the Ojibwa tribe may be a dying tradition. This is due to the weather conditions changing, and the pollution of lakes.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">Rubenstein, David. "Ojibwe Wild Rice Harvesting May Be a Dying Tradition." //Woodland Indians Forum//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article is focused on how the wild rice production throughout Minnesota reached an all time low this year.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Ojibwe." //Ojibwe History//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article shows the different regions in the US that the Ojibwa occupy. It also discusses about their culture.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"A Fight to save the Tradition of Wild Rice / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com." //The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article focuses on the how wild rice harvesting might be in danger. It also discusses how the cultural tradition might be at stake.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"White Earth Land Recovery Project - Indigenous Projects at The Onaway Trust." //The Onaway Trust//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article discusses the White Earth Land Recovery Project. It also discusses the origins of wild rice.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Ojibway First Nations Culture, Crafts and Ceremonies." //Travel Information for Trip Planning and Vacations//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. [] <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">This article depicts the Ojibwa past history and culture. It discusses their traditions, beliefs, and ceremonies.