Raising the Grain

Restoring Wild Rice Habitats to Protect Food Sovereignty

How is the food sovereignty of Indigenous communities affected by climate change?

Wild rice, known as manoomin in the Anishinaabe language, is more than just a plant in the lakes and rivers of the Great Lakes region. It plays an important ecological role and holds deep cultural significance for Indigenous communities. In this episode, Ami explores how environmental changes are affecting wild rice habitat and what that means for the ecosystems and Indigenous communities connected to it. Through conversations with researchers and cultural stewards, she learns how wild rice supports biodiversity, why it’s considered an indicator of environmental health, and how people are working to better understand and protect this important species.