This project will help to provide technical assistance and support for the protection of wild rice (manoomin in Anishinaabemowin) that is culturally significant to tribes in the Great Lakes basin. NOAA will work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and tribal partners in a multi-phase approach to better understand the dynamics and stressors on manoomin distribution in lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron coastal wetlands for current and future restoration and monitoring efforts. From previous project work with manoomin and tribal partners (FY17 and FY19 GLRI-funded work), a number of unmet needs were identified as data gaps for current and future restoration and protection project planning in the lake basins identified above. Multiple tribal and state agencies will look at manoomin through the lenses of Gaa-izhiwebak (past), Ezhiwebak (present), and Waa-izhiwebak (future) indicators of resilience.
Funding:
FY2023: $850,000
Contact:
Chiara.Zuccarino-crowe@noaa.gov
Partners:
BIA, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC), 1854 Treaty Authority, Lake Superior NERR, and several tribal partners and tribal organizations