Ricing Moon
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Manoominii Giizis - The Ricing Moon
Tomorrow we welcome Manoominii Giizis, the Ricing Moon — a time that honours the seasonal harvesting of manoomin, or wild rice. This moon marks a period of gratitude, hard work, and connection to the waters that sustain us.
For the Anishinaabeg, this is more than just a harvest — it is the fulfilment of a prophecy. Our ancestors were told to journey west until they reached the place where food grows on water. That food is manoomin.
About Manoomin – Wild Rice
Manoomin is a sacred plant that grows in shallow lakes and rivers. It is not truly rice, but a wild aquatic grain that:
-Nourishes our bodies as it’s rich in protein, fibre, and minerals.
-Supports the ecosystem by filtering water and creating habitat for fish and birds.
-Carries spirit and story: harvested by hand from canoe, it is a gift that connects us to land, ancestors, and ceremony.
For many First Nations (including mine) across the Great Lakes region, manoomin is not only food — it is identity, sovereignty, and relationship.
A personal story:
Last summer I had the pleasure of learning about the ricing process from our Firekeeper, who, along with my cousin and others in the community are Alderville’s rice bed caretakers. Unfortunately, the rice in Rice Lake is no longer plentiful, however, we do have smaller alternative rice beds in other locations throughout Northumberland and Quinte. Our visitor’s to PowWow that came out afterwards to our community feast were treated to traditional food and one of them was manoomin.
Words from Chief Taynar Simpson, Alderville First Nation
Chief Taynar Simpson of Alderville First Nation continues to be a strong voice for the land and waters we rely on and was just re-elected as our Chief. He recently brought international attention to Rice Lake and the Ganaraska River, advocating for their legal personhood as living entities deserving protection:
“This is an existential threat to our very existence as Indigenous people. This is our food, this is our water, this is our culture, and it is being threatened by overuse and neglect.”
— Chief Taynar Simpson, Alderville First Nation
His words are a powerful reminder that caring for manoomin means caring for the waters, the earth, and all those who rely on them.
Under the light of this Ricing Moon
As this moon rises, we may honour her teachings of reciprocity and gratitude by:
Reflecting on the waters in our own lives and how we care for them:
I highly recommend the book “Is a River Alive?” by author Robert Macfarlane. I promise you, it’s interesting and engaging.Support Indigenous efforts to protect sacred food systems like manoomin:
You can listen to Chief Simpson’s speak of the rights of nature in a past episode of Conversations Towards Reconciliation which is a regular podcast on Consider This.Learn about manoomin:
This is a short video about wild rice and its importance to Traditional Ecological Knowledge and as the hearbeat of our culture.
Whether you sit beside a quiet lake, prepare a dish of wild rice, or simply watch the moon rise — let this time be one of reconnection and reflection on nature and our place within it.
Miigwech (thank-you) for being here,
Jennifer