Origin of the Name

The name "Menominee" comes from the Ojibwe word *manoominii*, meaning "wild rice people." This name reflects the tribe's deep relationship with wild rice, a central food and cultural symbol. The Menominee call themselves *Mamaceqtaw*, meaning “the people.”

Range

The Menominee traditionally lived in what is now northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Their territory included thick forests, rivers, and access to the Great Lakes, especially Green Bay. Today, the Menominee Indian Reservation is located in Menominee County, Wisconsin.

Amiskquew, a mid-19th century Menominee warrior

Diet

Wild rice was a staple of the Menominee diet, harvested from local lakes and rivers. They also hunted deer, bear, and small game, and fished in rivers and lakes. The Menominee practiced limited agriculture, growing corn, beans, and squash. Berries, nuts, and maple syrup were also important food sources.

Spearing Salmon By Torchlight, by Paul Kane. It features Menominee spearfishing at night by torchlight and canoe on the Fox River.

How Did the Menominee Grow Rice?

The Menominee did not grow wild rice like a typical farm crop. Instead, they harvested it from natural lakes and rivers, where it grew wild. Their method was sustainable and respectful of nature.

Traditional Wild Rice Harvesting

• Timing: Wild rice was harvested in late summer or early fall when the grains were ripe but still on the plant.
• Canoe Method: Two people would go out in a birchbark canoe. One paddled while the other used wooden sticks called "knockers" to gently bend the rice stalks over the canoe.
• Gathering: The harvester tapped the stalks so ripe grains would fall into the canoe. Unripe grains were left to mature or reseed the lake.
• Drying and Processing: After collecting, the rice was dried, lightly roasted (parched), and threshed to remove the outer husks. It was then winnowed to separate the grain from the chaff.
• Storage: Finished rice was stored in birchbark containers or hide bags for later use.

Wild rice, known as manoomin, was considered sacred by the Menominee. They held ceremonies to honor the rice harvest, and their careful methods helped protect rice beds for future generations.

Home Type

Menominee families lived in wigwams made from saplings covered with birch bark or mats made from cattails. These dome-shaped homes were well-suited to the forested environment and could be easily built and dismantled with the seasons.

Culture

The Menominee have a rich cultural heritage centered around nature, especially trees and rice. They believe in *manitowak*, spiritual beings present in all living things.

In Menominee belief, manitowak are powerful spiritual beings that exist in all parts of nature—animals, plants, water, rocks, and even the wind. The term can mean “spirits” or “mystical forces,” and it reflects a worldview where everything in the natural world is alive and connected. Manitowak are respected and honored through ceremonies, stories, and offerings. They can be helpful or harmful depending on how they are treated. This belief system encouraged the Menominee to live in harmony with the environment, always showing respect for the spirits that surround them.

The tribe holds seasonal ceremonies, such as the wild rice harvest celebration. One famous story involves the Great Bear and the stars: it is said that the bear runs across the sky, chased by hunters, and when he is caught in the fall, his blood stains the trees red—explaining autumn leaves. They were expert woodworkers, creating bark containers, birch canoes, and beautifully carved tools. The Menominee are also known for their sustainable forest management practices, which continue to this day.

Warfare

The Menominee were skilled warriors but generally tried to maintain peace with neighboring tribes. Conflicts did occur, especially with the Dakota (Sioux) and later during the French and Indian Wars, when the Menominee allied with the French. In the 1800s, they resisted forced relocation and signed several treaties that eventually led to their present reservation.

Discussion Questions

1. Why was wild rice so important to the Menominee people?
2. How did the environment of Wisconsin shape the Menominee way of life?
3. What does the Great Bear story tell us about how the Menominee understood the seasons?
4. Why might the Menominee have chosen to side with the French during the French and Indian War?

Glossary

• Manoomin: The Ojibwe word for wild rice; a sacred food for the Menominee.
• Menominee: A Native American tribe from Wisconsin; the name means "wild rice people."
• Wigwam: A dome-shaped home made from saplings and bark or cattail mats.
• Manitowak: Spiritual beings or forces believed to exist in all of nature.
• Birchbark Canoe: A lightweight boat made from birch tree bark, used for travel and harvesting rice.
• Winnow: To remove the outer shell or chaff from grains by tossing them in the air.
• Threshed: The process of separating grain from its husks.
• Reservation: Land set aside by the U.S. government for Native American tribes.