Robert Desjarlait is Ojibwe-Anishinabe from Red Lake, Minnesota. He is a visual artist, historian, educator and traditional dancer. DesJarlait has created numerous paintings reflecting the culture of the Ojibwe and has been a cultural mentor and advisor on numerous public art projects. His father, Patrick Desjarlait was a nationally known Ojibwe artist, paving a path for Native artist’s work in the 1950s. Robert has published “Traditional Art of the Ojibwe” on Ojibwe symbols and pictographs and has done extensive research and documentation of Anishinabe traditions and symbols.

First Person Radio hosts Laura Waterman Wittstock and Richard LaFortune with Andy Driscoll talk with Robert DesJarlait about the environmental issues threatening the survival of wild rice in the Upper Midwest ricing areas in Minnesota. Wild rice – manoomin – is one of the sacred foods of the Anishinabe. It has been harvested by environmentally protected processes for centuries.

Guests:

ROBERT DESJARLAIT (Ojibwe) – Artist/Advocate – Red Lake Indian Tribe