The presence of wild rice (Zizania palustris var. palustris L.) in the Timmins District has been documented by local residents since 1930; efforts to extract this crop for commercial purposes have only been implemented since 1977. In the past, local residents have valued this crop as a waterfowl attractant rather than an economically viable food crop. Consequently, waterbodies allocated by the Ministry of Natural Resources for the commercial harvest of rice, have been dispensed to outsiders rather than local residents. Annual harvest figures range from 23.0 - 7990.0 kg; thus the Timmins District accounts for 33-100% of wild rice production in the northern administrative region. Harvested rice is shipped to northwestern Ontario and Manitoba for processing after which it is transported to the U.S. for packaging. Today, local residents value this crop as a waterfowl attractant; few, if any, efforts were made to increase the crop yield for commercial purposes even though suitable areas for its development exist. Since the beginning of harvest operations in the Timmins District, harvest activities have been frequently curtailed because of land-use conflicts between the harvester and local residents: cottagers claim harvesters are noisy and decrease the aesthetic appearance of the cottage sites, waterfowl hunters claim the harvesters are responsible for decreasing the waterfowl population during the hunting season. This report proposes that wild rice operations in the Timmins district can be expanded as an economically feasible venture. However, increased public awareness of wild rice harvest operations as well as increased local acceptance and participation is mandatory for such an operation to be a success. A sound management plan is imperative to the development and implementation of a wild rice program.

Thesis (M.S.)--Wisconsin. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-57).

Thesis (M.S.)--Wisconsin. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-53).

Thesis--Wisconsin. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-72).

Wild rice is recognized as a whole grain by U.S. FDA and it is rich in polyphenol compounds. This study aimed to investigate the potential cardiovascular benefits of wild rice in LDLr-KO mice. Seventy-two male and female mice were randomly assigned to 3 different diet groups, control diet (a), white diet (b), and wild diet (c) for 24 weeks. Dietary cholesterol 0.06 % (w/w) was added in all diets, and digestible carbohydrate source was replaced with: (a) commercial carbohydrate source (sucrose and corn starch); (b) white rice; (c) wild rice. Incorporation of wild rice in the diet distinctly increases total phenolic content of the diet. Plasma total cholesterol, VLDL, and LDL cholesterol levels declined significantly in wild diet group. The hypocholesterolemic properties of wild rice were mainly attributed to the increased excretion of fecal cholesterol. Our data suggest that substituting refined grains with wild rice may potentially lower cardiovascular risks.

Atherosclerosis is the primary underlying pathology of CVD. Dietary treatment may be considered as one of the initial steps in the prevention of atherosclerosis. Replacing refined carbohydrate source of a cholesterol- enriched diet with antioxidant rich whole grain and inclusion of phytonutrition in the diet such as wild rice and phytosterols may reduce cardiovascular risk factors. The wild rice (Zizania palustris L.), an annual plant native to aquatic areas of the northern America, receives much attention by researchers because of its potent nutritional and phytochemical contents. Furthermore, another dietary component with cardiovascular benefits is the inclusion of plant sterols in our daily diet. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiatherogenic activity of wild rice in combination with phytosterols in LDL-r-KO mice. Male LDL-r-KO mice were divided into 4 groups receiving one of the following experimental diets for 20 weeks: 1. Atherogenic diet, 2.Wild rice (as the main source of dietary carbohydrates) diet, 3. 2% Phytosterols-enriched diet and 4. Diet containing both wild rice and 2 % phytosterols. Blood samples were collected through jugular vein during study, and at sacrifice through cardiac puncture; the heart and fecal materials were collected and used for biochemical and histological examinations. The supplementation of wild rice in combination with phytosterols to an atherogenic diet for up to 20 weeks significantly reduced the total plasma concentrations of cholesterol (TC) in LDLr-KO mice. However, there was no significant difference in triglyceride (TG) in wild rice in combination with phytosterols after 20 week exposure of diet. Further, wild rice in combination with phytosterols resulted in increased fecal excretion of cholesterol. Also, there was reduction in the development of atherosclerotic lesion in the group of mice supplemented with wild rice in combination with 2% phytosterols (w/w). Our data support that combination of plant sterols and wild rice does not have additive effect in lowering cardiovascular risk.

Wild rice is recognized as a whole grain by U.S. FDA and it is rich in polyphenol compounds. This study aimed to investigate the potential cardiovascular benefits of wild rice in LDLr-KO mice. Seventy-two male and female mice were randomly assigned to 3 different diet groups, control diet (a), white diet (b), and wild diet (c) for 24 weeks. Dietary cholesterol 0.06 % (w/w) was added in all diets, and digestible carbohydrate source was replaced with: (a) commercial carbohydrate source (sucrose and corn starch); (b) white rice; (c) wild rice. Incorporation of wild rice in the diet distinctly increases total phenolic content of the diet. Plasma total cholesterol, VLDL, and LDL cholesterol levels declined significantly in wild diet group. The hypocholesterolemic properties of wild rice were mainly attributed to the increased excretion of fecal cholesterol. Our data suggest that substituting refined grains with wild rice may potentially lower cardiovascular risks.

Thesis (M.S.)--Missouri State University, 2008. / "August 2008" Includes bibliographical references (leaves 27-30). Also available online.

This thesis focuses on manomin (wild rice) ecocultural restoration by Wabaseemoong Independent Nations (WIN) in Northwestern Ontario. Ecocultural restoration includes the recovery of habitats and re-establishment of relationships between WIN and manomin. The objectives are to: 1) Describe the past and present state of rice-related practices in WIN and changes of the 20th century 2) Select and document a restoration site(s) 3) Identify the possibilities for the involvement of school students in the restoration process 4) Design a prototype for a wild rice camp that contributes to relationship re-establishment. The main pillars of the WIN restoration process - traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), site selection, involvement of children and young people, and transformative learning experienced by adult participants of a wild rice camp – are the main study components. The project is guided by a design-based methodology with data gathered through interviews, design workshops, participant observation, and biophysical methods. / May 2016

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 279-302). Also available on the Internet.