MENOMONEE INDIANS

MENOMONEES COLLECTED WILD RICE(ACTUALLY A SEED OF A GRASS) FROM CANOES IN SUMMER. WILD RICE HAD 60 DIFFERENT NAMES. WOMEN COLLECTED THESE SEEDS, MEN USED BOWS TO HUNT SMALL GAME OR FISHED FOR STURGEON WITH HOOKS, SPEARS, AND NETS /TRAPS. THEY BENT THE TALL GRASSES OVER THE CANOES AND BEAT THE GRASS HEADS INTO THE BOAT. THESE SEEDS WERE DRIED AND POUNDED AND THEN WINNOWED IN BASKETS TO SEPARATE THE HULL FROM GRAIN. IT WAS AN EASY FOOD TO COLLECT AND PREPARE. THEY DID NOT NEED CORN. THE GREAT LAKE TRIBES HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TERRITORIES AND RARELY KNEW PEACE. THEY COULD TRADE RICE FOR OTHER ITEMS. THEY TRADED FOR BUFFALO SKINS FROM THE PRAIRIES. RICE WAS INCLUDED IN THEIR MYTHOLOGIES. IN 1634 WHEN JEAN NICOLET, THE FIRST WHITE EXPLORER, CAME TO THE MENOMENEES, 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 WHERE IT ENTERS GREEN BAY.

THE MENOMONEE INDIANS WORE DEERSKIN SHIRTS AND LEGGINGS AND MOCCASINS. THE WOMEN WORE SHIRTS OF WOVEN NETTLES ALONG WITH ALONG WITH DEERSKIN NETTLES. WOMEN WERE FAAMOUS FOR THEIR WEOVEN POUCHES. THEY USED PLANT FIBERS, BASSWOOD TREES PLUS BUFFALO HAIRS. THEY DYED, SPUN, AND WOVE MATERIAL INTO LARGE SUPPLY BAGS WITH VARIOUS GEOMETRIC DESIGNS.

SMOKING TOBACCO WAS INCLUDED IN MOST OF THEIR CEREMONIES. THEY WERE FRIENDLY WITH THE ANGLOS.

CARL WALDMAN