Harvest rituals: Wild rice

Wild rice is not really rice at all, but a grass that grows in the lakes of northern Minnesota. For centuries it has been the mainstay of the Ojibwa people and when harvesting season rolls around, they get the first licenses. The ricers work in pairs: one poles the canoe while the other uses two knocking sticks to pull the reeds over the boat. With a simple tap, the ripe grains fall into the canoe, but some inevitably fall into the water, ensuring next year's crop.