Manomin - by Brittany Luby & Margaret Lehman & Andrea Bradford & Samantha Mehltretter & Jane Mariotti (Paperback)

About the Book

Grounded in Indigenous methodologies, this collection offers a community-engaged analysis of the only cereal grain native to Turtle Island, weaving together the voices of scholars, chefs, harvesters, engineers, poets, and artists to share the plant's many lessons about the living relationships between all forms of creation.

Book Synopsis

Reclaiming crops and culture on Turtle Island

Manomin, more commonly known by its English misnomer "wild rice," is the only cereal grain native to Turtle Island (North America). Long central to Indigenous societies and diets, this complex carbohydrate is seen by the Anishinaabeg as a gift from Creator, a "spirit berry" that has allowed the Nation to flourish for generations. Manomin: Caring for Ecosystems and Each Other offers a community-engaged analysis of the under-studied grain, weaving together the voices of scholars, chefs, harvesters, engineers, poets, and artists to share the plant's many lessons about the living relationships between all forms of creation.

Grounded in Indigenous methodologies and rendered in full colour, Manomin reveals and examines our interconnectedness through a variety of disciplines--history, food studies, ethnobotany, ecology--and forms of expression, including recipes, stories, and photos. A powerful contribution to conversations on Indigenous food security and food sovereignty, the collection explores historic uses of Manomin, contemporary challenges to Indigenous aquaculture, and future possibilities for restoring the sacred crop as a staple.

In our time of ecological crisis, Manomin teaches us how to live well in the world, sustaining our relations with each other, our food, and our waterways.

Review Quotes

"Each contributor adds to the story and understanding of Manomin in a way that allows Indigenous and Non-Indigenous readers alike to easily follow along. I recommend that those in fields of History, Law, Political Science, Indigenous Studies, and Environmental Science add this book to their 'to read' list, as well as anyone interested in understanding the importance of Manomin--and do not forget to try the recipes shared by Sean Sherman, Michelle Johnson-Jennings, and Shane Chartrand; you will not regret doing so."

--Chadwick Cowie "JACANZS"

"This book makes clear how relationships with Manomin help define the Anishinaabe way of life, how these lifeways have endured through the challenges and disturbances of colonialism, and how Manomin has lessons to offer both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples who are keen to work for more just futures. It features pieces that reflect influences from a range of academic fields, including the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Manomin's success in bringing together these various strands suggests that edited collections may serve as a promising format for the sort of multifaceted, multi-perspective, multidisciplinary intellectual work that can emerge from community-engaged research."

--Shannon Stunden Bower "H-Environment"

"From the dedication to the final pages of the index, Manomin is a gift and an invitation. Like its namesake, this small and mighty book was crafted to sustain you."

-- "Legacy UnBound"