Join us for a tour of these two incredible agricultural sites of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa! Visit Perch Lake to learn about manoomin (wild rice) and the importance of treaties in tribal food sovereignty, including the management, production, and marketing aspects of manoomin. Gitigaaning, which means "the place of the gardens" in the Ojibwe language, is a 36-acre farm with a growing dome, orchard, berry patch, pollinator plantings, and 4-acres open to the growers of the Bimaaji'idiwin Producer Training Program. The property also houses Na'eniminigamig, a cannery building with a root cellar, seed room, and commercial kitchen. Learn about innovations using traditional Ojibwe knowledge and indigenous agriculture practices, including wild rice hulls as mulch, as well as food sovereignty projects made possible by collaborations between tribes and federal, state, and local agencies.

Agenda:
9 a.m. - Check-in/Registration
10 a.m. - Tour: Group A to Perch Lake; Group B at Gitigaaning
Noon-1 p.m. - Lunch
1:30 p.m. - Tour: Group A at Gitigaaning; Group B to Perch Lake
3:30 p.m. - End

Presenters: Presenters will be represented by Fond du Lac Resource Management Staff and Gitigaaning Staff to share in the knowledge of Ojibwe traditional knowledge of growing and harvesting manoomin and farm produce.

This field day is supported by NIFA, USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.