Wild Rice Faces Numerous Threats—and Has Determined Protectors

Groups work to identify, save and reseed areas to help the culturally significant resource thrive as climate change portends more strains.By Susan Cosier Bazile Minogiizhigaabo Panek, a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, was 7 years old when he attended his first rice harvest in northern Wisconsin. He and his sister rode in a canoe while his mom pushed the boat with a pole through the plants growing out of the shallow water. Together, they tapped the plants with sticks. Rice seeds rained into the canoe; others fell into the water.