THE WILD RICE GATHERERS OF THE UPPER LAKES 
By Apert ERNEST JENKS 
INTRODUCTION 
This memoir was begun with the hope that eventually other some- 
what similar studies of American primitive economics might be made 
which would throw light from an almost new direction on the culture 
status of the North American Indians. As the economic motive is so 
dominant among the foremost peoples of to-day, its ascendence must 
mark a new stage in the measurement of culture. 1t has been very 
interesting to find, through this study, three distinct steps in the 
development of the motive for production, beginning with myth- 
founded belief and rising to an incipient state of economic consider- 
ation. For example, the Menomini Indians absolutely refuse to sow 
wild rice-—their motive is simply that of belief; the Dakota Indians 
do not sow the grain, but apparently have no myth-founded scruple 
against it; while among the Ojibwa no such belief seems likely ever 
to have existed, for they sow the grain from purely economic motive, 
though such motive is not so dominant as among many maize-producing 
tribes. 
This study has helped to elucidate the culture position of the tribes 
which used wild rice by showing the motives for production, the 
effect on the Indian of such quantities of spontaneous vegetal food, 
the property-right in the rice beds, and the division of labor. It 
has given a detailed picture of aboriginal economic activity which is 
absolutely unique, and in which no article is employed not of aborig- 
inal conception and workmanship. It has thrown light upon the 
almost constant warfare between the Dakota and Ojibwa Indians for 
two hundred and fifty years. It has shed light also upon the fur trade 
in a territory unexcelled in the richness of its furs, yet almost inac- 
cessible had it not been for the wild rice which furnished such nour- 
ishing and wholesome support to the traders and hunters. It also 
shows that much of history is wrapped up in native geographic 
names, and it is hoped that it may help to promote the preservation 
and retention of such terms. It has suggested new lines of manu- 
facture. 
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