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!
A Walk to Remember
"Sacred journey around Lake Superior"
Frank K. Koehn, July 3, 2000
Copyright © 2000 All Rights Reserved
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