At the Mnoominkewin Gathering,
Elders and Youth, Knowledge Keepers, Singers, Drummers, Artists, and Witnesses gather on the shore of Wshkiigimong under the Mnoomin Giizis
(Wild Rice Harvest Moon) to celebrate the resurgence of a staple food source
that has nourished Nishnaabeg for generations -
MAN-OH-MIN
Mnoomin, meaning the good seed or spirit seed,
inspires us to gather to plant, to harvest, to sing, to dance and to celebrate
Mnoomin’s continuing presence in our collective story as Nishnaabeg.
“Mnoominkewin” -
the art of wild ricing.
With collective spirit and celebration, we wish to inspire generative discourse and illuminate all that is good about our local food source.
Its presence inspires ecological attention to our waters, our lands, our mud,
the crawlers, the swimmers, the four leggeds and the flyers.
Mnoominkewin 2023 -
Undoing the 1923 William's Treaty
2023 will mark the 100th Year Anniversary of the signing of the 1923 William's Treaty. This genocidal document criminalized Anishinaabeg hunting, fishing,
and gathering of traditional foods and medicines.
It legislated our foods and medicines out of our hands.
It robbed us of our health and strength and created hunger and disease.
It removed Anishinaabeg from our lands and waters
and disrupted cultural knowledge transmission.
As we plant, gather, process, eat, celebrate, and renew familial and community ties
we actively un-do the damage done by the colonial government through this treaty.
Together we restore cultural transmission, exercise sovereignty,
and practice Mno-Bimaadiziwin.
