Early Ojibwe
Fall/Dagwaagin by: Julia Ohm
Gathering Wild Rice
When it became fall or dagwaagin, the Ojibwe would move near ponds, marshes, and lakes where they would gather wild rice. Wild rice was used in a lot of meals that they made. To get the wild rice the Ojibwe would get in a canoe and go to the wild rice stocks in the shallow waters. They then would tap the wild rice and it would fall into the canoe. Next they would go back to shore and let the wild rice dry on sheets of bark. After that they would roast it over a fire, then someone with a pair of clean moccasins would careful step on the wild rice and the chaff would fall off. Last they would put it in a winnowing basket and shake it, the wind would blow the chaff away and leave the grain in the basket. Gathering wild was the main thing they focused on during the fall.
Important Ojibwe Activities
More Fall Tasks
There were different activities that needed to be done during the fall other than gathering wild rice. The children would go collect the berries that came late and would dry them for winter. Also the men hunted duck and geese, that traveled to the marshes. Both the men and women caught fish and saved them for the winter. These fall activities helped them prepare for winter and have an abundance of food during the fall.