The people used their ingenuity and resourcefulness to learn how to use the new food. Over time they developed the steps required to harvest the delicious and nutritious manoomin. The first step was the gathering. The people paddled out to the manoomin fields in canoes. They drew the tall grass into the canoe with two sticks and tapped the grains into the bottom of the canoe. Returning to shore, they spread it out in the sun to dry off the moisture. Amongst the wet grains is a magnificent universe. Life in many forms — water striders, flying insects, little worms, small aquatic creatures, and other plant species are gathered up with the manoomin. All creatures of the earth are equal, living out their lives requiring the light and heat of the sun, as well as a source of water.