A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
Here are some of the wild ricing steps taught during the camp. Harvest: By using a push pole and knockers, harvesters poled through rice beds, being careful to not rip out the rice plants or knock stems to the point of breaking them. Drying: Rice from the lake is laid out on tarps in the sun to dry the rice and pick out any stems or other debris.
Winnowing: The danced rice is put in a shallow winnowing basket and expertly tossed so that the wind can be used to blow off the chaff.
Parching: Using a cast iron kettle over a fire, the rice is parched until the outer husk is ready to be removed from the rice.
Dancing: Wearing moccasins or soft canvas, a lighter person dances on the rice in a small side to side motion to remove the dried husks from the rice kernel.
Getting rice into a canoe requires some delicate skill.
Students from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and others got an in-depth look at wild rice and how to harvest it Saturday at the annual Manoomin demonstration camp at Leeman Lake.
The lessons learned included "how to sustainably harvest, or knock, the rice without breaking the stems to drying, parching, and winnowing the rice to get the final product that ends up at our dining room table," said Courtney Kowalczak, director of the Environmental Institute at the college. "Each step is a process that is time-consuming but ensures that we are appreciating the gift of the rice and taking care of this important resource."
The camp was open to anyone interested in learning about wild rice. Participants included Gidakiimanaaniwigamig youth campers and their families, brought by Ron Willis. Gidakiimanaaniwigamig camps are designed for young people to "study the earth while reconnecting with friends and mentors" with hands-on projects.
Ricing participants learned respect for the rice and how to harvest sustainably, from Fond du Lac Museum director Jeff Savage and band elder Sam Greensky. Savage also brought out a birch bark canoe made by community members using traditional methods.
Phil Savage from 13 Moons hosted a pole and knocker making demonstration and provided food for everyone at the camp.
The annual event was hosted by the 13 Moons Tribal College Extension Program, 1854 Treaty Authority, and the FDLTCC's Gidakiimanaaniwigamig program.
