The “Walk To Remember” was a huge success! Friendships
developed and the commitment to saving the lake and the region was affirmed and
reaffirmed in lodges, city halls, mainstreets, back roads, sidewalks, and dusty
paths. We all learned that standing side by side in a good way and asking the
spirits to guide us will keep us strong and our lakes, homes, rivers, and
forests will be protected!
PHOTOS TAKEN ON THE WALK. (At this time these are not organized. A big thanks to Amoose for the photos. If you have additional photos you would like to share, contact savethewatersedge.com.
A Walk to Remember
"Sacred journey around Lake Superior"
Frank K. Koehn, July 3, 2000
The Walk to Remember is a sacred journey around Lake Superior to bring forth community visions to protect the air, land and water for the Seven Generations yet to come. A group of nearly 50 people set out in the past week from the Bad River Chippewa Reservation in Odanah, Wisconsin.
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the
world. For many people, it is an important source of food, livelihood and
drinking water. Lake Superior is also an important part of the spirituality of
the Anishinabeg as passed down by our ancestors and oral histories. It is now
threatened due to contamination, global warming caused by over-development, and
a growing, global water crisis that further threatens the sanctity of its
waters and many life forms that depend on it, including, people.
"A Walk To Remember" is a journey around
Lake Superior that is being coordinated by a group of people from Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Ontario, and Michigan. The idea was born out of a gathering in Sault
Ste. Marie, in April of 1999, when Native and Non-Native people met to discuss
issues pertaining to the Great Lakes. This walk, this journey, is the result of
people's dreams and visions that were brought forward at this meeting. It is
also an effort to carry out the visions concerning the connections between
Great Lakes sustainability and what Native People's spirituality, culture, and
sovereignty, have to offer for its future, as voiced by the late activist, Walt
Bresette, a Lake Superior Chippewa from the Red Cliff Reservation, in northern
Wisconsin, who passed away in February of 1999. "We need to bring all the
people of Lake Superior together," he often said. "We need to talk to
each other about what is happening in our villages and our communities, to
share our experiences, our concerns, and our hopes for the future. We need to
meet our neighbors and learn from them."
This summer’s 1200-mile journey began on the south
shore of Lake Superior at Waverly Beach on the Bad River Reservation at sunrise
on June 28, 2000. It then continues on to the Fourth of July Pow-Wow at the Red
Cliff Reservation. The journey will end full-circle at the Bad River Pow-Wow in
late August.
This walk is also a spiritual journey, a pilgrimage, a
healing journey, to undo some of the damage done to Mother Earth and her
waters, and to bring healing to her people by communicating and listening to
one another.
Enroute we will seek to meet and learn from all who
know and understand the waters, beaches, forests, hills, routes, commerce,
communities, and spirit of the lake. It will be a journey that transcends the
notions of borders and boundaries. We will seek to bring people together in a
common community of sharing and insight. We will make note of what we hear, see
and feel. We will conscientiously carry what we learn and share it with each
new person and every community that we visit. Almost simultaneously, "A
Walk To Remember" will be reproduced on the Internet to share the sights,
sounds and ideas from Lake Superior to the rest of the world.
As the journey progresses around the lake, some common
stories and themes will emerge. By late summer, after every village and
community has been visited, and all who have wanted to be heard have been heard
the walk will end, where it began, on the Bad River Reservation. The journey
will carry back many common stories, themes, purposes, concerns, and visions
that will have been revealed and carried forward.
It is hoped that from the walk, a set of common
principles, commitments and standards can be realized towards a common vision
that ensures all that is special about Lake Superior will be protected and
nurtured for present and future generations. Please join us on this once in a
lifetime journey for the Seven Generations yet to come.
Frequently
asked questions:
HOW LONG IS THIS JOURNEY? About 1,200 miles
CAN FOLKS JOIN FOR PART OF THE WALK? Absolutely!
Join us for a block, a mile, a day or longer. Or stop for a visit or wave as we
go by. What TO BRING? Come self-contained for the distance of your journey,
plus anything that you can contribute to the rest of the fellow travelers.
Bring "mole skin" foot patches for blisters, bring rain gear. Bring
food to share, bring drinking water and a tent. Bring dry firewood, bring
flashlights and matches. Bring a good spirit and a willing heart.
HOW FEROCIOUS ARE THE BUGS? Bugs may be ferocious on
some parts of the walk. Bring along repellent.
WHERE WILL WE SLEEP? For the most part we will sleep
in tents. There may be the occasional opportunity to sleep in doors depending
on how many offers we receive.
WHAT ABOUT FOOD? We plan to have soup, rice, and
noodles available each night at our campsites. Along the way there are feasts
and picnics planned. It will be helpful if you can bring along food that can be
shared.
WILL THERE BE SUPPORT VEHICLES? Anyone who can offer
his or her services and/or vehicle for support will be appreciated.
WHERE DO WE NEED HELP? On the northern leg of the walk
across Canada.
WHAT ELSE? Water, food, rain gear, tent and chocolate.
The walkers left Waverly Beach on the Bad River
Reservation at sunrise on June 29th and then headed toward Ashland, Washburn,
Bayfield and on to the Red Cliff Reservation. Some people stayed at the Red
Cliff Pow Wow for two days, June 1st and 2nd, to participate, but others are
moved on towards Duluth. From Duluth we will walk to Thunder Bay. From Thunder
Bay to the Soo and then back to Bad River in time for the Bad River Pow-Wow
held in Odanah, Wisconsin.
Schedule for "A walk To
Remember":
A
sacred journey around Lake Superior to bring
forth
community visions to protect the air, land,
and
water for Seven Generations yet to come.
June 29 The "Walk to Remember will begin at
sunrise near Odanah, WI (at Waverly Beach) on August 29, 2000. From Odanah we
will walk to Red Cliff WI, following Highway 2 and 13. The annual Red Cliff
Pow-Wow will be held during this weekend. Some of the walkers will stay in Red
cliff for the Pow-Wow and others will leave the next morning and continue the
journey.
June 30 Leave Red Cliff at sunrise and continue
Herbster, WI. Tom Hastings has offered his yard as a place to camp. Tom's home
is located on Highway 13 Superior and Duluth. This site will be used for a
couple of sites if needed
July 1 Walkers will leave Tom's and return to
Herbster, WI and walk to Tom's. (Some walkers may want to drive back to Red
Cliff for the Pow-Wow for part of the day.)
July 2 Leave Tom's and continue on to Superior
WI. (In Superior and Duluth we will walk as close to the lake as safety
permits. We may need to drive over St Louis River. (Walkers may camp at Tom's
or at a location in the Duluth/Superior area.)
July 3 Leave Superior WI and walk thorough Duluth
MN. The exact route will be decided the day before so consideration can be
given to the weather, traffics, etc (Camp at Tom's or in the Duluth/Superior
area)
July 4 Leave from Duluth MN and walk to Knife
River. (Camping arrangements TBA)
July 5 Leave Knife River and walk to Gooseberry
Falls. (Camping arrangements TBA)
July 6 Leave Gooseberry Falls and walk to Illgen
City MN. (Camping arrangements TBA)
July 7 Leave Illgen City MN and walk to
Temperance River. (Camping arrangements TBA.)
July 8 Leave Temperance River, and walk to Grand
Marais MN. (Camping arrangements TBA)
July 9 Leave Grand Marais MN and walk to Hoveland
MN. (Camping arrangements TBA)
July 10 Leave Hoveland MN and walk to Grand
Portage MN. (Camping arrangements TBA)
July 11 Leave Grand Marais MN and walk to Pigeon
River US - Canada Border. (Camping arrangements (TBA)
July 12 Leave Pigeon River and walk to Crooks CA
(Camping arrangements TBA)
July 13 Leave Crooks CA and walk to Moose Hill CA
(Camping arrangements TBA)
July 14 Leave Moose Hill CA and Arrive in Thunder
Bay CA. (Camping arrangements TBA)
July 15 Thunder Bay check gear and review the
journey through Canada.
All camping arrangements will be TBA on route. This
schedule is also subject to change due to weather and road/walking conditions.
July 16 Leave Thunder Bay CA arrive Silver
Harbour CA
July 17 Leave Silver Harbour CA arrive Loon CA
July 18 Leave Loon CA arrive Dorion CA
July 19 Leave Dorion CA arrive Nipigon CA
July 20 Leave Nipigon arrive Jackpine River
July 21 Leave Jackpine River arrive Gravel CA
July 22 Leave Gravel CA arrive Schreiber CA
July 23 Leave Schreiber CA arrive Terrance Bay
July 24 Leave Terrance Bay arrive north of
Jackfish Bay
July 25 Leave Jackfish Bay CA arrive Ripple CA
July 26 Leave Ripple CA arrive Coldwell CA
July 27 Leave Coldwell CA arrive Marathon CA
July 28 Leave Marathon CA arrive Hemb CA
July 29 Leave Hemb CA arrive White Lake
July 30 Leave White Lake CA arrive White River
July 30 Leave White River CA arrive Obatanga Provincial
Park
July 31 Leave Obatanga Provincial Park arrive
half way between the park and Wawa
August 1 Arrive in Wawa CA
August 2 Leave Wawa CA arrive near Brule Hill
August 3 Leave near Brule Hill walk south towards
Montreal River Harbour CA
August 4th Continue south arrive in Montreal
River Harbour CA
August 5 Leave Montreal River Harbour CA arrive
Pancake Bay Provincial Park
August 6 Pancake Bay CA to Trans Canada Highway
August 7 Trans Canada Highway to Sault Ste. Marie
CA
August 8 Sault Ste. Marie CA south to Highway 28
continue west on Highway 28
August 9 Continue west on Highway 28
August 10 Continue west on Highway 28 arrive
McMillen MI
August 11 Leave McMillen MI arrive west of Seney
MI
August 12 Leave Seney MI arrive Shingleton MI
August 13 Continue west and arrive in Au Train MI
August 14 Leave Au Train MI arrive Harvey MI
August 15 Leave Harvey arrive arrive Marquette MI
August 16 Leave Marquette MI arrive Ishpeming MI
August 17 Leave Ishpeming MI arrive Van Riper
Sate Park
August 18 Continue west on Highway 28
August 19 Arrive Coventington MI
August 20 Leave Covenington MI arrive Kenton MI
August 21 Leave Kenton MI arrive Ewen MI
August 22 Leave Ewing MI arrive Bergland MI
August 23 Leave Bergland MI arrive Wakefield Mi
August 24 Leave Wakefield MI arrive Ironwood MI
August 25 Leave Ironwood MI arrive Saxon WI
August 26 Leave Saxon WI arrive in Odanah WI for
the pow-wow.