Fri, Sep 02, 2016 – Sun, Sep 04, 2016
Manoomin, Zizani aquatica, wild rice…the symbolic grain of the North. Wild rice has been a significant food source for the people who have inhabited the Great Lakes region for centuries and who have harvested this annual grain generation after generation. In this course, you will paddle to a historic ricing bed for a day of harvesting and gain insight into the finishing of the grain. You’ll then learn about drying, parching, hulling, hand-winnowing and food preparation methods, and you will go home with your own finished rice. Participants are required to bring canoes (one canoe per pair – rentals available) and have previous paddling experience. Students who plan to rice on their own in the future should consider enrolling in one or both of the preceding courses to make the tools necessary to harvest and process rice, the pole and winnowing tray.