My favorite Swedish proverb reads “Kärt barn har många namn” which translates to “A beloved child has many names”. This holds true for Wild Rice, well loved by those who know it and have found it precious enough to name.
Wild Rice is known in Ojibwemowin as Manoomin, meaning “the Good Berry”, and in Dakota as Psíŋ, and western science has bestowed the genus name Zizania. Most Minnesotans are familiar with Manoomin/Psíŋ, whether they have a favorite recipe or their own harvest stories. Manoomin/Psíŋ grows as an annual, aquatic grass, and prefers shallow, mucky lake bottoms where seeds from previous years can sink and rest until they are ready to grow tall again. This plant is a cherished relative and a species of great spiritual, cultural, and economic importance to the tribal nations of the Great Lakes.
Anyone who has harvested Wild Rice can tell you that Manoomin/Psíŋ is a great teacher of reciprocity. Gentle harvesting with knocking sticks allows you to take home what falls in your canoe, while the grains that miss the boat will sink and start the next generation. The relationship we have with Manoomin/Psíŋ reminds us that people are not separate from the natural world, we play a large role, and hold a large responsibility.
It is of great concern that Manoomin/Psíŋ is in decline throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and much of Canada, and has all but disappeared from Michigan. As an annual grass that is sensitive to changes in water level and water quality, Manoomin/Psíŋ is at risk from the effects of climate change and land use change as well as competition from other aquatic plants. It is crucial to understand what is harming Manoomin/Psíŋ and what can be done to protect it.
Our collaborative team of researchers includes members from the University of Minnesota (UMN), White Earth Tribal and Community College (WETCC), and the White Earth Department of Natural Resources. We have been working to investigate the impact of agricultural chemicals on Manoomin lakes in the Otter Tail River Watershed of west-central Minnesota.
This work is part of the larger Kawe Gidaa-naanaagadawendaamin Manoomin/Psíŋ Tribal - University Research Collaboration, and serves to bring together different ways of knowing and build trust between the University and the tribal nations of the Great Lakes Region.
Field efforts have focused on examining lakes and streams throughout the watershed where Manoomin used to grow in stands thick enough for harvest, but have seen little to no Manoomin in recent years. In order to capture the impact of local fertilizer and pesticide applications on Manoomin lakes, sampling was conducted for pesticide and nutrient anion analysis. This was done in tandem with hydrologic monitoring of upwelling and downwelling in these lakes, to better understand the pathways these agricultural chemicals follow. Nutrient surface water samples were collected monthly to bimonthly during the field season. Pesticide samples were collected in mid summer, soon after local applications and when runoff was expected to be high.
Through this work, we aim to better understand the fate and transport of agricultural chemicals in the watershed, and to paint a clearer picture of how they enter and accumulate in Manoomin lakes. Agricultural pollution can impact the health of the aquatic environment and also directly impact Manoomin growth. We hope this data will serve to support White Earth Nation in their stewardship of Manoomin and Manoomin habitat.