Wild Rice (Manoomin) in the Tamarack Region

Wild Rice (Manoomin) in the Tamarack Region: Value, Abundance, and Need for Protection. Like a typical research report, the resource shares scientific findings and environmental data. But it also harnesses interactive tools and personal stories from those who have lived experiences with manoomin.
The Tamarack region of Minnesota’s Aitkin and Carlton Counties, known as the “wild rice basket,” is one of the most abundant wild rice areas in the world. Wild rice, or manoomin to the Ojibwe/Chippewa peoples, is more than just a plant. It nourishes ecosystems, supports local economies and carries deep cultural and spiritual meaning, particularly for Indigenous communities.

But this vital resource is vulnerable. WaterLegacy, a Duluth-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting Minnesota’s waters, says environmental changes and proposed development are of great concern to communities that depend on the area’s wild rice waters. In response, the organization partnered with the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP). Connecting the regional leaders with University resources, RSDP supported WaterLegacy in developing a one-of-a-kind tribute to a landscape as vital as it is irreplaceable.