Along the Dead River a Native American guide says a prayer & hands out tobacco as an offering of thanks to nature (photo by Greg Peterson)

Written by Greg Peterson

Teenagers, an American Indian guide and volunteers recently held the fourth annual planting of wild rice in a project aimed at restoring the once abundant grain to northern Michigan.

The groundbreaking Manoomin Project has teamed hundreds of at-risk teens with American Indian guides. Together, they’ve planted over a ton of wild rice since the summer of 2004.

Wild rice disappeared from Michigan over a century ago and is a vital part of Native American ceremonies and traditions. Manoomin means wild rice in Ojibwa.

“You are the first ones to bring wild rice back to the area,” the teens were told by American Indian guide Dave Anthony of Marquette, Michigan. Centuries ago, American Indians moving inland from the east coast settled around the Great Lakes. “We were told at one of the stopping points that we would find food that grows on water and that is what we call Manoomin. It’s the wild rice you are planting,” Anthony said.

“This is very, very significant - this is a gift from the Creator,” said Anthony, who attends Northern Michigan University and belongs to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa (Ottawa) Indians based in Harbor Springs, Michigan. “Wild rice is the original North American grain and is very nutritious.”

The 2007 planting was delayed six weeks because of extremely low water levels. The Manoomin Project secured seeds from Minnesota and they were planted less than 48 hours before the first major snowfall of the season. The teens planted about 40 pounds of wild rice by carefully tossing a half a handful at a time into slow spots in the Dead River and nearby channels.

Manoomin is a difficult crop to plant; conditions must be ideal. Besides facing the hurdle of a late planting, the wild rice is a favorite food of geese and other wildlife. Still, the seeds that reach maturity through the harsher weather will be more likely to thrive in future years.

Manoomin Project volunteer Tom Reed of Marquette said the at-risk youth volunteer to plant and study wild rice "in lieu of community service." The teens are taught respect for themselves, nature and American Indian customs while planting wild rice at seven remote lakes and streams in Marquette and Alger counties.

"This is about educating the kids and not about punishment," said Reed.

“We had a good time planting wild rice,” Native American Don Chosa said of his work with the teens. He said some teens arrived angry because it was something they had to do, but they started to enjoy it and by the time they were done with one year of planting wild rice they were willing to come on a volunteer basis the following years.

“They learn how to plant, harvest and cook wild rice and they learn how to take water samples,” said Chosa. “A lot of them hadn’t been outside very much - so for them it was a good experience because it was miles and miles of hiking and mountain climbing.”

The project is sponsored by the Superior Watershed Partnership and the Cedar Tree Institute, non-profits based in Marquette; and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC).

KBIC elder Glenn Bressette of Harvey met with a group of at-risk teens and explained how he had similar problems when he was a youth but overcame issues like scrapes with police, and drinking alcohol, an addiction that was exacerbated by “a lot of prejudice in Marquette.”

The Manoomin Project falls under the umbrella of the Earth Keeper Initiative, a faith-based coalition of adults, university students, and the leaders of 9 faith communities with 140 churches and temples. It was founded by Rev. Jon Magnuson. Recently, the Earth Keepers/Cedar Tree Institute were declared one of the 15 hardest-working faith-based non-profits in America by the Acton Institute and World Magazine. It was the the second year in a row they received that honor.

The Earth Keepers hold an annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep that has collected 370 tons of household poisons and other waste turned in by 15,000 Upper Peninsular residents across northern Michigan on the past three Earth Days.

To learn more about The Manoomin Project go to: The Cedar Tree Institute

To view videos of Earth Keeper activities go to:
1. Manoomin Project Music Video
2. Earth Keeper TV
3. YooperNewsman

To purchase wild rice hand-harvested by Ojibwe communities on the White Earth Indian Reservation in Minnesota go to: Native Harvest Wild Rice: Sacred Manoomin