Makak Aabajitoon Ganawendang Manoomin: Guiding wild rice conservation with Anishinaabe worldview

by | Jul 21, 2025 | News, Wetland Coffee Break

Manoomin (wild rice) occurs throughout the western Great Lakes basin. It played a central role in the Anishinaabe migration story and has long been sacred in sustaining the Anishinaabe lifeway. Abundance of manoomin has declined in recent decades on lakes once supporting major beds in Wisconsin. Manoomin has garnered significant research interest in recent years due to its importance to the identity of Ojibwe and other Indigenous peoples inhabiting the Great Lakes region. Historically, research efforts excluded Traditional Ecological Knowledge; however, with clear alignment of goals, collaborative research can complement tribal interests, strengthen partnerships, and lead to higher impact. Using a co-design approach, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Northwestern University collaborated with Ojibwe nations and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission to develop a low-cost remote sensor to monitor environmental factors affecting manoomin.

Brandon Byrne, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) and Blaine Rothrock, Northwestern University

Recorded July 18, 2025

Brandon Byrne is an Inland Fisheries Biologist for the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC). His work focuses on assessing inland fish populations in northern Wisconsin and Michigan and assisting GLIFWC member Tribes with the protection of Ceded Territory fish populations and habitat. Brandon previously co-managed GLIFWC’s Manoomin Program as a Wetland Ecologist.

Blaine Rothrock is a Computer Science PhD candidate at Northwestern University. He earned his master’s degree in artificial intelligence from Northwestern University and his bachelor’s degree in informatics from Indiana University. Blaine’s work focuses on novel applications of health wearables and environmental sensors, with the ultimate goal of democratizing access to the development of ubiquitous embedded devices to promote research, creativity, and education.

Register for upcoming Wetland Coffee Break presentations or watch previous recordings.

Related content

Manoomin/Wild Rice: The ecology and importance of a wetland treasure
By Kathleen Smith, Genawendang Manoomin (which translates to “she who takes care of the wild rice.”), Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission

Tucked within the quiet shallows of lakes and slow-moving rivers across Wisconsin, a slender aquatic grass with graceful stalks and waving seed heads has anchored cultures, fed ecosystems, and sustained traditions for centuries. 

Wild rice: food for migrating waterfowl

You may enjoy a dish of wild rice for its flavor and nutrition. But did you know that wild rice provides valuable cover, food, and loafing sites for numerous bird species of conservation concern?

Wetland Coffee Break: Wild rice with fish: A winning recipe for restoration

Established rice beds represent a valuable aquatic habitat for grazing waterfowl as well as spawning and nursery habitat for fish.