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THE SACRED HARVEST by Gordon Regguinti

THE SACRED HARVEST

Ojibway Wild Rice Gathering

by Gordon Regguinti & photographed by Dale Kakkak

Pub Date: Oct. 31st, 1992
ISBN: 0-8225-2650-6
Publisher: Lerner

First in a promising new series—``We Are Still Here: Native Americans Today''—a look at an unusual crop with both traditional and commercial significance. Both author and photographer are Native American Minnesotans; Regguinti was raised on Leech Lake Reservation, depicted here. His straightforward text features Glen, a boy who's harvesting for the first time; the author also describes preparing the rice in the old way and commercially, notes the tradition of preserving the ``sacred harvest'' for personal use, and points out that new machine-harvestable strains of rice have caused hardship by driving down prices. The excellent color photos are more candid than those for Hoyt-Goldsmith's Artic Hunter (above)—e.g., old clothes are sometimes worn—making for authenticity without detracting from the positive portrayal. Glossary; brief bibliography. (Nonfiction. 7-11)