Group looks to protect wild rice for future generations by recognizing its rights under state law

Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
The heavy rains and flooding that affected much of Minnesota last spring and summer may seem a lifetime ago. But it’s a weather pattern we are expected to see more of as the state becomes warmer and wetter. These conditions are also hard on wild rice, which needs shallow water, especially early in the growing season.
One way people who are concerned about the future of the plant are working to protect it is through the law. A campaign launching this year asks the state of Minnesota to recognize legal rights for wild rice, as the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and the 1855 Treaty Authority have done.
Leanna Goose is an organizer with the Rise and Repair Alliance, a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and a researcher who is working to reseed wild rice on Leech Lake. She is speaking in a panel discussion Sunday at the Great Northern Festival’s Climate Solutions Series, moderated by MPR News senior reporter Melissa Olson.
Leanna Goose joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the campaign.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Audio transcript
One way people who are concerned about the future of this plan are working to protect it is through the law. This year, a coalition is asking the state of Minnesota to join the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and the 1855 Treaty Authority in granting legal rights to wild rice. Joining me to talk about this campaign is Leanna Goose, an organizer with the Rise and Repair Coalition and a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Welcome to the program, Leanna.
LEANNA GOOSE: Yeah, thank you for inviting me here today. And I just want to clarify that this isn't directly coming from the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and the Treaty Authority. This is inspired by the work that they have done. But this is coming from the Rise and Repair Alliance. And I just wanted to clarify that before we get started.
NINA MOINI: Absolutely. And this is an issue that has been ongoing on the hearts and minds of many people from a long time. Can you talk a little bit about your personal relationship to wild rice?
LEANNA GOOSE: Yeah, I can. So growing up, I harvested manoomin with my parents. And those rice beds that I remember as a kid were abundant and expansive. And the rice beds that we see today are completely different. The rice beds that my children are ricing on are not the same rice beds that I knew growing up.
So I have personally witnessed a loss of wild rice here on Leech Lake. And I am currently working on a research project called Protecting Manoomin for the Next Seven Generations. And that is in coordination with the Leech Lake Tribal College and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Division of Resource Management.
NINA MOINI: Yeah.
LEANNA GOOSE: Yeah, we're working to study the loss of manoomin and the impact of invasive species and working to correct that problem with actions.
NINA MOINI: Yeah. Can you tell me a little bit more about what that research is like and what you all are doing?
LEANNA GOOSE: Yeah, certainly. So this past summer, we mapped out Headquarters Bay rice bed. And what we found out there was definitely concerning. We witnessed a significant loss of wild rice and a significant increase in the invasive species, Eurasian watermilfoil. And we were able to compare that data from the rice bed from 20 years ago. And we were able to witness this loss.
And so we're going to take active steps to try to help manoomin because manoomin has helped our people throughout the generations. And now is really the time that we need to help manoomin. So this summer, we will be removing invasive species using the Diver Assisted Suction Harvest system. And this is a mechanical method to remove invasive species.
And we will be reseeding with manoomin. And there will be control plots marked out for comparison. And then the following year, we will do surveys studying whether or not wild rice is able to recover in those areas previously occupied by invasive species.
Manoomin, as you said, faces many threats from climate change, pollution, and invasive species. And invasive species are one threat that we can tackle locally. The other threats will require collective action. And that is really what the campaign to protect manoomin at the state level is all about.
NINA MOINI: What about just usage of the area and then people-- I mean, that is also a part of what leads to some of the invasive species and the changes there. Would you want changes to happen in use of the area?
LEANNA GOOSE: Yeah, I think working towards a respectful existence with this sacred plant is central to what we are working towards with recognizing the inherent rights of manoomin/psin at the state level. And in recognizing the inherent rights of wild rice, we would recognize that wild rice is a keystone species.
It is crucial to the health of people, economies, and ecosystems in the state of Minnesota. It's the state grain. And we really want to work towards seeing this plant is not only just a resource but a relative.
And that's what recognizing the inherent rights of manoomin/psin aims to do is to bring that culture of respect to all of Minnesota. So when we think of the living beings that we share this earth with as resources, that leads to exploitation. But when we think about them as living beings, a relative, then we're able to show respect to them.
And in Anishinaabe culture, that is a central part of our teachings, is that we recognize that the plants, the animals, and the water, we wouldn't be here. And in recognizing that, we show respect to them, bring [INAUDIBLE] anytime we take from them. And it is that culture of respect that we aim to bring to Minnesota. Sorry.
NINA MOINI: No, that's OK. I was just going to add that there is precedent for this, that governments around the world, even some local cities, municipalities like Pittsburgh, have passed right of nature laws in the past 15 years or so. Critics say that this is more symbolic or philosophical than it is practical.
What is going to be your approach, your coalition's approach, at the state capitol? Given there is a divided state legislature this year, how will you approach trying to talk with lawmakers about changing their perception, perhaps, of what wild rice is?
LEANNA GOOSE: Yeah, I think it's really going to take all of Minnesota to stand together to protect our life sources. The basis of life is water. And our existence and manoomin or wild rice are tied together. So when we work towards protections for wild rice, we are also looking out for life as we know it as humans. And I think helping our legislators to understand that is important in this current moment.
And I think it's also important for them to recognize that wild rice is such a sustainable food source. It requires no pesticides, no fertilizers. All it needs is clean water and a shallow area to thrive.
And it can help provide for our people as it has through generations if we take care of it. And I think helping to get our legislators to recognize that is going to take all of us reaching out to them and letting them know that we care and letting them know that we want to see protections for wild rice and water, our life sources here in Minnesota.
NINA MOINI: And before I let you go, Leanna, I do want to talk about just who all is involved in this effort and backing this effort along with you.
LEANNA GOOSE: Yeah. So I work within the Rise and Repair Alliance, which is an alliance made up of 21 different environmental, faith, and Indigenous organizations working together to advance legislation that can protect Indigenous rights and work towards climate justice. So they are behind this movement.
We just presented this to the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. And the tribes approved of this legislation. I've been in touch with the Upper Sioux Community, who sits outside of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, and they are in support. And I've been in touch with the Sandy Lake Band of Ojibwe, and they're in support.
So I think we're at a really monumental place where all of the tribes within the state of Minnesota agree protections for fresh water and wild rice. And environmental organizations are behind this, Indigenous organizations, faith-based organizations. And now we've really got to get the state to agree. And I think it could really help to heal the waters and the ecosystems here in Minnesota.
NINA MOINI: Leanna, thank you so much. We hope you'll come back and update us on how your efforts are going as the session proceeds here.
LEANNA GOOSE: Yes, I will definitely do that. Thank you for inviting me here.
NINA MOINI: Thank you.
LEANNA GOOSE: [INAUDIBLE]
NINA MOINI: That was Leanna Goose, organizer with the Rise and Repair Coalition. She's speaking on a panel about the campaign to grant legal rights to wild rice at the Great Northern Festival's Climate Solutions Series this Sunday in Minneapolis. And our very own Melissa Olson, MPR's Native News reporter, will be facilitating that conversation.
Download transcript (PDF)
Transcription services provided by 3Play Media.