Mnoomin maan’gowing = The Gift of Mnoomin

Mnoomin, often mistermed as “wild rice”, has been sown and harvested for generations by the Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation. The ecological note at the end of this book explains that some Anishinabeg would instead translate mnoomin as “spirit berry” and that, “when properly cared for, mnoomin helps to sustain all our relations.” Pawis-Steckley’s first of many rich and evocative double-page spreads illustrates a child cupping a small mnoomin seed in their hands as they imagine every facet of nature that made the seed possible. From pike (gnoozhe) to eagle (mgizi) to muskrat (zhashkon), many animals nurture the growth of mnoomin that, in turn, feeds and protects creatures like duck (jiigbiik), bat (pashkwaanaajiinh), and human. Luby’s narrative guides readers through a complex ecosystem, bringing to light the interconnectedness of flora and fauna. The child participates in the harvesting of mnoomin, offering semaa to the waters, tobacco to the fields, and seed coats to the wind. Some seeds are set aside to be returned to the field and sowed for future seasons. Anishinaabek care, respect, and tradition are all foregrounded in the harvesting process. Corbiere’s translator’s note ends the book by explaining that “not all Nishnaabemwin speakers speak and write our language in the exact same way”, highlighting that diversity in language expresses the beauty and uniqueness of people from different communities who share beliefs and values rooted in the natural world.

Beautifully rendered, this Anishinaabemowin and English bilingual book is a visual and narrative gift to young readers eager to explore Indigenous culture and ecology.