Contributing to Community

Grantee: Friends of the Finland Community

Increasing local food sovereignty has always been a goal of the Friends of the Finland Community. Over time, that has evolved into meeting a greater desire to preserve local cultural roots and practices, as well as to positively impact the local community and economy.

The construction of a wild rice processing facility enabled 18 local harvesters to process over 2,000 pounds of wild rice in its inaugural season, despite significant weather challenges.

Additionally, teaching others how to use the processing equipment carries forth the rich traditions and historical significance of wild rice in the Arrowhead Region.

Local community members have been involved through preparing the space to house the processing equipment, equipment, the sharing of knowledge through tours, and participating as mentors and mentees for harvesting and processing wild rice.