Harvesting & Processing of Ojibwe Wild Rice. Harvesting & Processing Traditional methods used by the Ojibwe people to harvest manoomin are still used today. The same is true for finishing the harvested rice, although some have mechaniized aspects of finishing and will even finish rice for others for a charge. (See insert card for a list of finishers.) The description of the traditional Ojibwe harvest of wild rice that follows is based on an account written by Lac du Flambeau high school students, Jeff Allen, Raelle Allen, Gabrielle Poupart, and Bill Eckerstorfer, regarding the gathering of manoomin. Manoomin, called "wild rice" outside the Ojibwe culture, has played a central role in tribal life.
It has spiritual attributes, and its discovery is recorded in legends. Harvesting wild rice is also called knocking the rice. Harvesters used canoe paddles to get to the wild rice beds, but long poles were used to move through the rice beds. Freshly harvested rice must be dried almost as soon as it comes off the lake. Northern Bushcraft - Foraging in the Pacific Northwest. Calendar of Harvesting and Gathering of Plants in Central Valley California.
Acorn Naturalists. T. Walkingstick handout.pdf (application/pdf Object)