There is the pleasure of spending time with friends in a beautiful, virtually unspoiled area. There is also satisfaction in knowing that a food plant from ancient times is thriving. The original people of Canada’s northeastern regions (now Ontario and Quebec), and some northern areas of the United States, have gathered the nutritious food for centuries.
Wild Rice Aquatic Plant, Flowers, and Seeds
Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica) is not really rice. It is actually a member of the grass family whose seeds are the cereal. This tall, aquatic plant grows in fresh water lakes and quiet rivers, or bends in rivers where the water moves slowly. It will not survive in sand, clay, or fast-moving waters. Mature seeds that fall into the water become implanted in a muddy base in the autumn.
In spring, they begin to sprout and grow to the water’s surface. Depths of about four feet are preferable, although the plant will grow in varying depths. At the water’s surface, the plant enters the floating-leaf stage. When it gains strength, the stalk straightens up and continues its growth.
By mid summer, the stalks reach about four feet above the surface with great growth of long, broad leaves. The fruit is borne on the long shoot that rises above the top leaf. The lovely yellow and burgundy flowers hang as earrings from the top shoot.
Yield of Traditional Harvesting in Canoes
Following the teachings of an Elder who knows well all aspects of the aquatic plant’s life, people take their canoes into the wild rice field. The canoe is maneuvered through the thick growth by pole or long, hand-made rice paddle. Both tasks are extremely difficult if the tall stalks are bent over due to a heavy rain and wind storm.
The person doing the gathering sits at the back of the canoe. Two tapered cedar sticks that are about thirty inches long are used to gather the seeds. One is used to bend the stalk, and the other to tap the loose, ripened seeds into the canoe. Unripe seeds are harvested later, so care is taken that the stalks are not damaged. The harvest season extends over ten to fourteen days. Experienced traditional harvesters establish a rhythm with the activity.
When the yield is plentiful, at least one-third of the gathered seeds are returned to the water for the following year’s growth. The remainder are later processed and shared. When there is sparse growth due to adverse weather or other conditions, all harvested seeds are replanted.
Most of the wild rice sold in markets today is cultivated, but there are large areas where the wild variety thrives. Within those, most of the harvesting is done by airboat for commercial enterprises owned by First Nations people.
Name of Wild Rice Decided by Explorers
Why was this aquatic food thought to be rice? It was a food staple for the Native people. When French explorers learned of this, and saw that their stamina was maintained during winter, they credited the wild rice. The newcomers named the grain ‘folles avoines’ (false oats). Explorers in later years thought of rice paddies when they saw people harvesting on the water. They decided that the crop would be called ‘wild rice’. It was named 'manomin' (good berry) by the Ojibwa people.
A day of gathering wild rice is one of peace, fresh air, and camaraderie. It is also a time of protecting nature’s gifts and remembering ancestors who harvested.
Information about the nutritional value of manomin is contained in "Nutritious Wild Rice for Healthy Eating".
Sources:
Algonquin Elder Frederick W. Antoine
Wild Rice by William G. Dore, Published by Canada Department of Agriculture, 1969
Kathleen Airdrie - Kathleen has thirty years' freelance writing experience covering history, biographical profiles, environmental and social issues
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