Harvest of the Moon Resources

Waewaenen (thank you) for your interest in learning more about
our Harvest of the Moon program. This program shares generational knowledge
specific to the Menominee people.

This page includes a sample of Harvest of the Moon resources.

Table of Contents

Harvest of the Moon

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Introduction and Acknowledgements

The Menominee people, also known as Mamaceqtawak, lived on over ten-million acres in what is now known as the State of Wisconsin. This land was well-known by the Menominee where they traveled with the seasons harvesting wild rice, tapping maple trees for syrup, harvesting sturgeon during the spring spawn, hunting game, and sustainably farming for over 12,000 years.

Within this guide, you will learn about the Menominee’s 13 moons and how these moons connect to the environment, seasons, and activities that Menominee traditionally practiced. This guide was designed by and for Menominee people and hopefully serves as inspiration to other communities that are exploring their food ways and rebuilding their traditional food systems. While designed for school age children, Harvest of the Moon can be used and enjoyed by all age groups.

The Harvest of the Moon guide celebrates the Menominee people’s Indigenous foods and connections to language, art, and culture. Every moon, or month, highlights a food that was traditionally consumed during that time frame. The guide artfully weaves together the following:

Menominee/Indigenous Recipes. We honor our relatives by including recipes from cookbooks gathered from women’s groups and other groups that gathered, cooked, and shared recipes in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Where recipes for a specific food did not exist, our planning team thoughtfully selected Indigenous recipes that were specific to the Great Lakes region.
Menominee language. Menominee language is woven throughout and was researched by Menominee language learner Jennifer K. Gauthier. The names of foods and useful phrases related to the foods are included to help with local revitalization efforts. Animacy and in animacy is noted and helps people understand their Indigenous relationships with food.
Menominee art. Local Menominee Artist Aespekit, Dan Grignon, created all of the imagery. His worldview is shaped by his language learning and way of life. The art included in this guide is uniquely Menominee as can be seen through contemporary interpretations of Menominee applique and the environment.
Menominee learning. An activity is included with each moon. These activities are engaging and while designed for school-age students, are fun for all ages of learners. These activities were designed to connect to the traditional Menominee way of learning–-learning by observing.

It is believed that through sharing this guide, we can strengthen Menominee peoples’ connections to their traditional diets. The stories that are associated with these foods, and the culture and language, are inherently a part of Menominee life. This guide is a path to health and recognizes the knowledge our ancestors carried for thousands of years.

Eneq!
Jennifer K. Gauthier, Director, Sustainable Development Institute at the College of Menominee Nation
Dawn Doperalski, Health & Well-Being Educator, Division of Extension, Menominee County/Nation
Kimberly Nagel, Kemāmaceqtaq: We’re All Moving Program Manager, Division of Extension, Menominee County/Nation

Sample Harvest of the Moon Materials

A select sample of Harvest of the Moon materials are provided below. If you are interested in accessing the full suite of Harvest of the Moon materials, please contact Kimberly Nagel.

All Harvest of the Moon materials available on this page are intended for download and print.
They are not optimized for screen viewing.