This week on Minnesota Native News: We hear about researchers using wild rice to predict the health of Minnesota’s lakes and streams — and get an inside look at a native artist Leah Lemm’s performance at the Cedar Cultural Center. Here’s reporter Cole Premo.
Transcript
HEADLINES: Marie: This week on Minnesota Native News: We hear about researchers using wild rice to predict the health of Minnesota’s lakes and streams and get an inside look at a native artist's performance at the Cedar Cultural Center.
Here’s reporter Cole Premo with that story and more.
STORY 1 - WILD RICE/SULFATE DISCOVERY & NATIVE INPUT
REPORTER: A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered that wild rice can serve as a sort of canary in a coal mine, giving warning signs as to the health of lakes and streams.
For over a half-century, it’s been known that wild rice does not grow well in high-sulfate Minnesota lakes, but what was missing was the why.
Until now.
MYRBO: “Sulfate is the problem with wild rice. It’s not sulfate directly. But sulfate, when it gets into the mud at the bottoms of lakes, is converted into sulfide.”
Amy Myrbo (MEERBO) is a research associate involved with these studies at the U of M and has researched wild rice since 2009.
In short, microbes in the soil convert sulfate into toxic levels of sulfide. That soil is the same place where wild rice germinates and roots.
MYRBO: “Sulfide is that like rotten egg smell that you might smell when you’re walking in certain types of swamps. It’s a toxic gas.”
Researchers also found that same process releases a bunch of other chemicals that can be problems for ecosystems, like phosphorus, nitrogen and methylmercury, the only form of mercury that contaminates fish.
Therefore, wild rice has shown researchers that increases in sulfate to ecosystems can have negative consequences, even though the compound itself is relatively benign.
It’s an important discovery involving a food source that is struggling in the midwest. Myrbo describes the current condition of wild rice.
MYRBO: “We think we’ve lost a lot (of wild rice) across the state. But we don’t really have a great inventory besides the tradition knowledge. People saying ‘my granny used to rice here and now there’s no rice here.’”
Myrbo says that anishinaabe knowledge of wild rice, or mahnomen, has been crucial in this research.
MYRBO: “It’s absolutely critical. I think that you can’t do wild rice research without having native investigators really leading the project.”
Dr. Mark Bellcourt is a Senior Academic Advisor and teacher of indigenous environmental knowledge at the U of M. He is also a member of the White Earth Nation.
Bellcourt says there has been a disconnect between researchers and tribal members when it comes to wild rice research.
BELLCOURT: “Tribal members want to preserve the natural stance of wild rice. They are looking forward to this research. They want this type of research to go on. They want the expertise that the university has. They just want to be a part of it.”
Among other native investigators, Bellcourt serves as a native cultural liaison, bridging the gap between scientists and tribal nations.
It’s really just the beginning of the research, but Mybro hopes the collaborative work between researchers and tribal nations can be used to make good public policy that balances economic needs of the state with food sovereignty and protecting the environment.
Mybro and University colleagues, including Bellcourt, have received a 720,000 dollarb “Grand Challenges” research award. It will be used for new research using wild rice as a flagship for assuring clean water and equitable communities.
BELLCOURT: “For the Anishinaabe people, it’s essential. It’s part of our culture, it’s part of our history. We’ve lost a lot of the wild rice. And this is a resource, once it goes away, it’s gone. It’s an endangered species.”
More information on the research and much more can be found on the University of Minnesota’s website.
STORY 2 - LEAH LEMM CEDAR COMMISSIONS SHOW/PROJECT
REPORTER: In other news, Minnesota musician and Mille Lacs Band Of Ojibwe member, Leah Lemm, has received a prestigious commission to make original music.
In full disclosure, Leah is my sister and also a contributor to Minnesota Native News.
Leah was one of six artists awarded the Cedar Commissions, a unique opportunity for emerging artists to make a half-hour of original music and perform it at the Cedar Cultural Center. It’s made possible with a grant from the Jerome Foundation.
Leah says her project, called RUINS, was inspired by a conversation she’s been having in her Masters of Fine Arts program at the Institute of American Indian Arts.
LEMM: “The conversation being that we as indigenous people have already experienced a sort of apocalypse or our own end of days. I like to think that it makes us extra strong, extra resilient. RUINS, is about survival. Finding hope among destruction.“
While the composition creates a cohesive half-hour project, each song within stands on its own.
LEMM: “The performance space will be set up for a surround experience with sound design, creating an immersive environment.”
The performance is slated for Saturday, Feb. 10th at 7 p.m., the second night of the commission performances.
If you miss the performance, never fear, she plans on recording an album of the original music that will be available for download in the coming months.
More about Leah Lemm can be found on her website molecularmachine.media or on Facebook.
For Minnesota Native News, I’m Cole Premo.
FUNDER CREDIT: Minnesota Native News is produced by Ampers, diverse radio for Minnesota’s communities made possible by funding from the Minnesota arts and heritage fund and the citizens of Minnesota.