August is the seventh moon of the Anishinaabe lunar calendar and is known as Wild rice Moon or Manoomin Dabik-Giizis and is the time to harvest the wild rice.

The wild rice grains are green, tan and brown which once harvested are then husked and parched in a wide shallow drum, which brings out the naturally toasted flavor. The rich taste has notes of mushroom, forest undergrowth and wood smoke.

According to Anishinaabe Legend:

One evening Nanaboozhoo returned from hunting, but he had no game. … As he came towards his fire, there was a duck sitting on the edge of his kettle of boiling water. After the duck flew away, Nanaboozhoo looked into the kettle and found wild rice floating upon the water, but he did not know what it was. He ate his supper from the kettle, and it was the best soup he had ever tasted. Later, he followed in the direction the duck had taken and came to a lake full of manoomin.

He saw all kinds of duck and geese and mudhens, and all the other water birds eating the grain. After that, when Nanaboozhoo did not kill a deer, he knew where to find food to eat.

We invite you to read more at yesmagazine.org.

Each month we invite you to explore our #IndigenousTeachings and experience the rich and diverse Indigenous culture, food, and languages found throughout Canada.

Wild rice (2nd image): https://www.indigenousexperienceontario.ca/