Ojibwe elders, cultural knowledge holders, and harvesters have long observed the decline of Manoomin (wild rice, Zizania palustris) around the Upper Great Lakes since Euro-American settlement and colonization. Recently, academic scientists also have measured its decline, estimating losses of 30%, often for scientifically complex reasons (Drewes & Silbernagel 2012). While academic disciplines such as hydrology, biogeochemistry, and plant ecology can help us understand the extent to which “invisible” or “imperceptible” conditions influence one another, local oral histories and traditional knowledge offer a deeper and more complete understanding of (1) physical and metaphysical relationships with Manoomin, (2) how land and waters have changed over time, and (3) ways to respond and adapt. Through this project, we facilitated semi-structured interviews with more than 30 local Indigenous harvesters in the Ottertail Watershed and the White Earth Indian Reservation, to gather a holistic understanding of land-water-Manoomin relationships. The watershed has undergone dramatic land use changes in the last century from mostly small dairy farms to larger livestock and irrigated row-crop agriculture. Concerns and evidence exist that ground and surface waters and aquatic ecosystems have been affected. In collaboration with White Earth Nation partners, we explore and share harvesting stories highlighting deep reciprocal relationships with Manoomin, observations of change, and profound concern for Manoomin’s future.
Sponsor: Phase 1 was sponsored by IonE (funding ended in late 2024), and now is sponsored by USGS Midwest Climate Adaptation Center
Timeline: CASC grant (Phase 2) runs April 2025 to March 2027
Contact: Emily Kreiter ([email protected])
