White Earth Tribal & Community College (WETCC), Community Extension Department hosted the annual Manoomin Gabeshiwin (Wild Rice Camp) on the WETCC campus Thursday, September 18th and Friday, September 19th, 2025. At this community event, 170 participants of all ages enjoyed many activities. Local community knowledge keepers, Stanton (Stan) Alexander and Dawn Kier shared their knowledge of Manoomin Gabeshiwin. Binesi dagoshin sang traditional songs around the rice processing. Naythan Keezer passed on his gift of how to make rice knockers. Collaborative partners, White Earth Natural Resource Department, demonstrated the process of knocking Manoomin with a visual display of a canoe surrounded by sheaves of grass and the Food Sovereignty Program represented as well. Other activities offered were jigging, winnowing, and popping wild rice. The process of making of sumac lemonade was shared and samples given. The White Earth Tribal Public Health partnership was instrumental in carrying out this event. Traditional games were led by Ana Kircher, White Earth Public Health Educator and the WETCC Culture and Language team. Gina Boudreau, Tobacco Coalition Coordinator led sessions on heart healthy teas and keeping tobacco sacred.
The 2025 Manoomin Gabeshiwin (Wild Rice Camp) was funded in part from USDA/NIFA (Award #2022-47003-38383) and was made possible because of our program’s local partners and the support of our community. Miigwech!
Maria Fatz, WETCC Community Extension Coordinator
