Manoomin: Wild Rice or Tame Rice

Manoomin:
A sacred food from Gichi-Manitou (the Creator) or just Rice?

What happens when opposing world views collide over one of the two natural growing grains in North America? The Anishinabek consider Manoomin (Wild Rice-Zizania Palustris) a sacred gift from the creator to be used for nourishment and ceremonies. It is woven into our history. We once lived on the shore of the Great Salt Lake (St. Lawrence River) many generations ago. Our ancestors were told by a prophet to move to the place where the food grows upon the water (there were many stopping places along the way throughout the Great Lakes Area). Manoomin is the food that grows upon the water and it continues to play an intricate part of our lives and spirituality.
The Anishinabek consider their selves a part of the natural environment. Our first mother is Mother Earth. She provides nourishment for us. It is our belief that at the end of our physical life we too will provide nourishment for Mother Earth and all living things as our physical body decomposes and returns back to our mother. Manoomin is a sacred gift and need to be protected in its natural state for the next seven generations
The Euro-American world view sees the natural world as a commodity to be tamed and used for personal gain. The early settlers saw the New World as a respite from their overcrowded and strained environment in Europe. Today in America’s corporate world the natural environment is a resource to be used for capital gain. Science is used to increase the supply and strength of natural resources to provide a commodity to consumers for a profit.
You must read at least four resources on the issue of manoomin and the conflict around these two world views. You will then form an opinion about the manoomin issue: You will take a stand either for the genetic alteration of manoomin or against the genetic altering of manoomin.
Then you will then create a poster and persuasive essay to support your opinion. You must also answer the following question: What happens to the manoomin population as man interacts with these two opposing world views.
Next you will give an oral presentation using your poster and essay to try and persuade your classmates to agree with your point of view on the manoomin issue.
Read over the persuasive essay assignment rubric. Make sure you understand the requirements before starting the assignment. You will present your completed poster to your peers while using your essay for supporting arguments and information.