Native American: Wild Rice Processing Event with April Smith, Derek Nickolas & Sagen Quilley
Join April Smith of Bear Clan Designs as she hosts a Wild Rice Processing Event. Three wild rice experts will demonstrate the traditional steps of processing and finishing wild rice. Participants will learn how freshly harvested wild rice is transformed into a food while gaining a deeper understanding of the care, time, and cultural knowledge that goes into this important food.
Wild rice or Manoomin, holds a deep cultural, spiritual, and historical importance for the Anishinaabe People and other Indigenous peoples of the Great Lakes region. This event will also include a Plant Medicine Workshop, where participants will make a tea blend to take home.
Come gather, learn, and share in a full day of culture, food, and community connection.
A traditional Indigenous lunch will be provided.
Group meets at the Minneapolis American Indian Center.
Cancellations and transfers require a one week advance notice.
If event is sold out, please add your name to the waitlist. We will notify you if a spot opens.
Katherine Bodger
Community Education Coordinator
Trips, Tours & Events
Questions?
612-668-3000
Katherine.Bodger@mpls.k12.mn.us
April Smith
Instructor
April Smith is an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. She is also an
Indigenous Educator and Facilitator, an Herbalist from Cornell University, a Curriculum Designer, and her work is rooted in Ojibwe cultural education and nutrition, Indigenous Food Sovereignty, and community wellness. With over 16 years of experience designing and facilitating learning experiences for communities and organizations, April brings a unique approach that blends Anishinaabe foodways with modern wellness practices. Her work is grounded in reciprocity, sustainability, and respect for ancestral knowledge. She teaches that food is medicine and that every ingredient has a story, one that connects us all through shared humility and care for Mother Earth. April’s Indigenous Cooking Class Series runs from January 2026 through May 2026, featuring five seasonal classes that celebrate traditional Anishinaabe foods and share how the Anishinaabe people lived by the 13 Moon System. Cooking by the 13 Moons: Indigenous Seasons of Food Series invites participants to rediscover the relationship between food, culture, and the land, an experience that nourishes both body and spiritAE-56132-F26-SWT
Instructors:
- Katherine Bodger
- April Smith
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 3rd 2026 | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Minneapolis American Indian Center |
