For many people, the woods and waters of the Upper Midwest are more than a beautiful landscape – they are a home. But for the Anishinaabe people, the relationship with the environment, and specifically with Manoomin (wild rice), is deeper still. It is a sacred connection rooted in a promise to care for a relative that provides life and sustenance. To honor this connection, a transformative partnership has emerged, resulting in a profound new resource: Anishinaabe Manoomin Genawenimaajig – Those Who Watch Over the Wild Rice, a guidebook for healing relationships with Manoomin.
This guidebook shares teachings from Manoomin knowledge holders and is intended for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous harvesters, stewards, and relatives who wish to learn from one another about the gifts Manoomin shares. It is the culmination of a broader research project and a two-year interview study guided by tribal and intertribal agencies dedicated to protecting and restoring Manoomin (the Ojibwemowin word for Psiη in Dakota), nibi (water), and all their relatives.
One of the central figures in this collaboration is Mae Davenport, a professor in the Department of Forest Resources and director of the Center for Changing Landscapes. Working alongside researchers from Wisconsin Sea Grant and the Nature Conservancy, Davenport and a team of University of Minnesota students supported a project requested by tribal partners to document the teachings of those who know the rice best.
The project was massive in scope, beginning with a proposal team from organizations like the Fond du Lac, Lac du Flambeau, and Leech Lake Bands, the 1854 Treaty Authority, and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. Over time, the partnership grew to include 35 tribal, intertribal, and non-tribal organizations. This collective work peaked at the Manoomin Psiη Knowledge Symposium in late 2023, where more than 350 knowledge holders gathered to honor tribal sovereignty through the sharing of food, language, stories, science, and visions for a reciprocal future.
At the heart of the guidebook is the interview study conducted by the University of Minnesota team. Following strict cultural and institutional protocols, the researchers gathered with 17 knowledge holders who shared their stories, beliefs, and hopes. Crucially, the authors and curators identify Manoomin itself as a knowledge holder and a teacher. As cultural advisor Kathy Chosa Smith reminds us, “Manoomin speaks through us.”
The focus of the piece is squarely on healing. For the contributors, healing is not a technical fix, but a relational one. The guidebook serves as an invitation to move toward a future of mutual respect and understanding, acknowledging that the health of the Manoomin is inextricably linked to the health of the community.
For the Department of Forest Resources, this project represents the evolving edge of our field. It demonstrates how academic research can serve as a bridge, bringing together scientific rigor and traditional wisdom in a way that respects tribal sovereignty. Davenport and her colleagues have helped curate a space where the stories of elders and the spirit of the rice take center stage. They remind us that true conservation begins with the humility to sit with the land and the courage to repair our connection to it. As we look toward the future of our natural resources, this partnership stands as a powerful example of how we can build a more resilient, respectful, and healed world for the generations to come.
Read the full guidebook: z.umn.edu/Manoomin-Guide.