Barbara Barton, an endangered species biologist and author, will discuss the history, culture, biology, economics, and spirituality surrounding this sacred plant. She begins her story in the days before European colonization and travels in time through the logging and industrialization eras. Barton will explore the worlds of the Anishinaabek and the colonizers as she contrasts their different perspectives and relationships with Manoomin. She will also discuss Michigan’s historic wild rice beds, why many of them vanished, and how tribal and non-tribal people have sought to restore and protect Manoomin across the landscape, and how the plant is harvested and processed. Manoomin: The Story of Wild Rice in Michigan, has won numerous awards, including the 2019 Michigan Notable Book Award.