The Good Seed-Wild Rice, and other ways of Reclaiming

The Good Seed- Wild Rice and other ways of Reclaiming

As Anishinaabe Ojibwe people,  we believe in utilizing our art as a way to bring together our value system with business, our communities, and our stories. What we see and carry on us influences what we think is important.  We all want to be that nike ad right?  Full of life, vitality, epicNess.

Our Good Seed Collection represents a driving force in artist Howes' life and in her work.  "I started going wild rice harvesting just about five years ago.  There is something so magical about being out on the lake with the Manoomin stalks curved over the boat.  Ricing reminds me alot of doing beadwork.  It's alot of work and we start with just these tiny pieces, we work and work, and eventually there's this moment of unbelievable abundance and beauty."

The act of harvesting Manoomin is also an act of cultural revitalization in Native communities.  "We started harvesting because our neighbors Jim and Pat Northrup encouraged us and role modeled this way of life.  They wanted our kids to grow up immersed in these traditions." Howes recalls

Watch an Interview with Jim Northrup here:

For Native and non-native people alike, we know that when the wild rice is healthy, so are we. It is an indicator of our ecosystem.  The cycle of water to plant to our body to ceremony and around and around we go.  Manoomin represents how well we are doing.  The Manoomin, the Good seed, sometimes called the Good Berry is another constant in our work.  As Native artists, we carry and make these designs to remind us of this central place it plays in our universe.  The gift.

Our Good Seed Collection