Michigan’s State Grain Is On The Verge of Extinction

It used to cover most of the Great Lakes region. According to Anishinaabe prophecy, it was the leading force behind why their people settled in this area. I'm talking about the only grain native to North America dubbed manoomin, or the "good berry", by the Anishinaabe people. 

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However, manoomin is now facing extinction around the state, with its centuries of tradition standing to be lost forever. This is the story of manoomin and the ones trying to save it.

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Why It's Going Extinct

Why this wild rice is going extinct has numerous factors, but the main reasons involve climate change/wetland loss, capitalism, and dams. Much of the wetland that was prevalent around Michigan was lost due to dams to support farms, settlements, mining, and logging.

READ MORE: Here Is How Much Of Michigan Is Native American Reservations |

Plus, many companies have attempted to patent the rice and sell it, and many legal battles have occurred since then to keep the wild rice, well, wild. All these factors have led to an overall diminishing of rice in the wild.

How Manoomin Is Harvested

Understanding the process of Manoomin harvesting is crucial to understanding why this grain is so important to native peoples. Manoomin is grown in wetlands and harvested at the end of summer by a two-person team on a canoe.

One person is responsible for propelling the canoe while the other bends the rice shoots over the boat and knocks the grains onto the canoe floor. From there, the collected grains are put in a basin over a fire and baked.

Hope Is Not Lost

While this is an uphill battle, progress to save the grain is in motion. It was named the official native grain of Michigan back in 2023, putting a spotlight on the importance of this grain. The state is providing funding to study and find the best areas to promote growth. Other tribes like the Bay Mills Indian Community offer workshops and rice camps, inviting people to learn and assist with harvesting the grain.

While it is unlikely the rice will ever fully recover, the goal is to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts around the state.