The year's wild rice harvest is underway on state rivers and streams, giving Wisconsin’s tribes the opportunity to replenish their stores of a food that's both nutritious and culturally important.
Peter David, a biologist with the Great Lakes Indian Fish And Wildlife Commission, said that while some rice beds are probably already tapped, many will continue to have rice for several weeks. He added that because wild rice matures over a long period, a carefully harvested bed may have new seeds ready for harvesting a short time later.
"You can come back two or three days later and pick that bed again," he said.
Harvesting is generally a two-person job done by canoe or a similar boat. One person propels the boat with a pole and sets its course, while the other does the actual work of harvesting the rice, gently using two sticks to "coax" ripe seeds into the boat, David said.
Any Wisconsin resident can get a free permit to harvest the beds in the state.
Wild rice is prized for its high nutritional content, which includes protein and B vitamins, and for how easy it is to preserve it for long periods of time. But for Wisconsin’s native peoples, the wild rice plant also has a significance that extends far beyond nutrition.
The Menominee tribe, for example, take their name from the wild rice plant, which the tribes call "Manoomin." The Ojibwe, meanwhile, have stories of migrating to a land where the food grew on the water, following the words of a prophecy.
David said that for tribal members, harvesting the rice is something seen as a duty, a sign of respect for their relationship with the land.
"Harvesting isn’t just something that’s enjoyable or rewarding — it’s actually sort of a responsibility, that you show appreciation to the creator by going out and harvesting this plant," David said.
The rice is also omnipresent at tribal feasts and ceremonies.
Wild rice is available for sale around the state for anyone to buy and cook with. David said there are many ways to enjoy eating the rice, from standard rice dishes like soups and salads to popping it "like popcorn," and using it in breakfast dishes or even sweet baked goods.
"It really is amazing stuff," he said. "If you go onto the Internet and do a search, you’ll soon be inundated with more different ways to use rice than you can imagine."
See some of David's favorite recipes here.