Manomin: Caring for Ecosystems and Each Other

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by Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation

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Reclaiming crops and culture on Turtle Island Manomin, more commonly known by its English misnomer “wild rice,” is the only cereal grain native to Turtle Island (North America). Long central to Indigenous societies and diets, this complex carbohydrate is seen by the Anishinaabeg as a gift from Creator, a “spirit berry” that has allowed the Nation to flourish for generations. Manomin: Caring for Ecosystems and Each Other offers a community-engaged analysis of the under-studied grain, weaving together the voices of scholars, chefs, harvesters, engineers, poets, and artists to share the plant’s many lessons about the living relationships between all forms of creation. Grounded in Indigenous methodologies and rendered in full colour, Manomin reveals and examines our interconnectedness through a variety of disciplines―history, food studies, ethnobotany, ecology―and forms of expression, including recipes, stories, and photos. A powerful contribution to conversations on Indigenous food security and food sovereignty, the collection explores historic uses of Manomin, contemporary challenges to Indigenous aquaculture, and future possibilities for restoring the sacred crop as a staple. In our time of ecological crisis, Manomin teaches us how to live well in the world, sustaining our relations with each other, our food, and our waterways. "From the dedication to the final pages of the index, Manomin is a gift and an invitation. Like its namesake, this small and mighty book was crafted to sustain you." ― Legacy UnBound "This book makes clear how relationships with Manomin help define the Anishinaabe way of life, how these lifeways have endured through the challenges and disturbances of colonialism, and how Manomin has lessons to offer both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples who are keen to work for more just futures. It features pieces that reflect influences from a range of academic fields, including the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Manomin ’s success in bringing together these various strands suggests that edited collections may serve as a promising format for the sort of multifaceted, multi-perspective, multidisciplinary intellectual work that can emerge from community-engaged research." -- Shannon Stunden Bower ― H-Environment "Each contributor adds to the story and understanding of Manomin in a way that allows Indigenous and Non-Indigenous readers alike to easily follow along. I recommend that those in fields of History, Law, Political Science, Indigenous Studies, and Environmental Science add this book to their ‘to read’ list, as well as anyone interested in understanding the importance of Manomin―and do not forget to try the recipes shared by Sean Sherman, Michelle Johnson-Jennings, and Shane Chartrand; you will not regret doing so." -- Chadwick Cowie ― JACANZS “Manomin teaches us much; how to observe, the need for biodiversity, and the understanding that there will be rice somewhere else, on different years, based on water levels. Manomin has provided food during the harshest of times. We were told that we should care for our water and there would be rice. There are lakes where Manomin has been drowned by the state and provincial authorities, raising water levels for recreational boats. For many years the Mille Lacs band of Anishinaabe tried to get the water levels corrected for the rice to flourish on Onamia and Omeme Lakes. At one of those lakes, the water levels went down in a drought, and the Manomin returned, seventeen years later. At another lake it was fifty years later. The Manomin returned when the conditions were right. That reminds us, like this book, of the resilience of seeds, the resilience of life, and our agreement to care for all. This book is a blessing of teachings and acknowledgment for the great gift of Manomin." -- Winona LaDuke, To Be a Water Protector: Rise of the Wiindigoo Slayers Brittany Luby, author of  Dammed: The Politics of Loss and Survival in Anishinaabe Territory , is an award-winning historian and educator whose paternal ancestors originate from Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation. She is the English language author of two bilingual picture books that were illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. Margaret Lehman is a settler researcher who joined the Manomin Project in May 2019. Lehman is currently working on the land and caring for her plant relations in lands protected by the Dish with One Spoon Covenant. Andrea Bradford obtained her PhD from Queen’s University and teaches Resources Engineering at the University of Guelph. She was awarded the Faculty Association Distinguished Professor Award for Innovation in Teaching in 2020. Samantha Mehltretter is a Water Resources Engineer in Training. Her doctoral research, in collaboration with Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation, is looking at restoring manomin on the Upper Winnipeg River.  Jane Mariotti is a graduate from the University of Guelph with a BA in environmental science w

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