Groups in Michigan are fighting to preserve the future of Michigan’s indigenous wild rice.
The Michigan Wild Rice initiative looks to protect the history of manoomin, a crop indigenous to the Great Lakes region that has largely disappeared due to colonization, environmental degradation, and climate change. The location of most of the beds of rice, which largely grow on the water, are not well known outside of tribes.
Bridge Michigan reports that indigenous tribes seek to restore the state’s native grain around the state with a stewardship plan that includes rice camps, soup cookoffs, and cultural summits. Reseeding efforts are also part of the plan, and a big summit to discuss the future of the crop is planned for October.