Ricing under way on reservation

The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa announced last week some guidelines for members harvesting wild rice.

“(R)espect the gift we have been given,” the Band’s Wild Rice Committee said in a news release Aug. 31. “Please avoid areas of green rice, knock with respect, and to think of those who come after you as those who came before you did.”

The wild rice harvest began on Saturday. Other harvesting notes include:

• Ricing will be allowed every day.

• For the first week harvest hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m .; for the second week harvest goes until sunset.

• Harvest limited to Band members, their spouses and “Other Indians” as defined in the FDL Conservation Code. Band members may bring a non-Band member guest-ricing. The non-Band member guests will be required to possess a State of Minnesota or their respective tribe’s manoomin harvesting license.

• In the event of significant rain, the harvest will be prohibited.

Lake conditions were mostly rated excellent, the Band said.

The Band reminded folks that life jackets are required for each harvester. Fond du Lac Natural Resources staff is purchasing fresh green/unprocessed rice daily from both on and off Reservation waters for $5 per pound. Fond du Lac Band said it will be purchasing seed from all willing harvesters with a daily limit of 400