MENOMONEE INDIANS

THE MENOMONEES COLLECTED WILD RICE (ACTUALLY A SEED OF A GRASS) FROM CANOES IN SUMMER. WILD RICE HAD SIXTY DIFFERENT NAMES. WOMEN COLLECTED THESE SEEDS, MEN USED BOWS TO HUNT SMALL GAME OR FISHED FOR STURGEON WITH HOOKS, SPEARS, NETS, AND TRAPS. THEY BENT THE TALL GRASSES OVER THE CANOE AND BEAT THE GRASS HEADS INTO THE BOAT.


THESE SEEDS WERE DRIED AND POUNDED, AND THEN WINNOWED IN BASKETS TO SEPARATE THE HULL FROM GRAINS. IT WAS AN EASY FOOD TO COLLECT AND TO PREPARE. THEY DID NOT NEED CORN.

THE GREAT LAKE TRIBES HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TERRITORIES AND RARELY KNEW PEACE. THEY COULD TRADE THIS RICE FOR OTHER ITEMS. THEY TRADED FOR BUFFALO FURS FROM THE PRAIRIES. RICE WAS INCLUDED IN THEIR MYTHOLOGIES.

IN 1634 WHEN JEAN NICOLET, THE FIRST WHITE EXPLORER, CAME TO THE MENOMONEE, THEY CONTROLLED THE NORTHWESTERN SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN. THEY HAD YEAR ROUND VILLAGES. DURING WINTER THEY HAD DOMED WIGWAMS WITH SAPLINGS COVERED WITH CATTAIL MATS AND REEDS. THEIR LARGEST VILLAGE WAS AT THE MOUTH OF THE MENOMONEE RIVER WHERE IT ENTERS GREEN BAY.

THE MENOMONEE INDIANS WORE DEERSKIN SHIRTS AND LEGGINGS AND MOCCASINS. WOMEN WORE SHIRTS OF WOVEN NETTLES, ALONG WITH DEERSKIN NETTLES.

WOMEN WERE FAMOUS FOR THEIR WOVEN POUCHES. THEY USED PLANT FIBERS, BASSWOOD TREES, PLUS BUFFALO HAIRS. THEY DYED, SPUN, AND WOVE MATERIALS INTO LARGE SUPPLIES BAGS WITH VARIOUS GEOMETRIC DESIGNS.

SMOKING TOBACCO WAS INCLUDED IN ALMOST ALL OF THEIR CEREMONIES. THEY WERE FRIENDLY WITH THE WHITES.


CARL WALDMAN