Stewards of the Wilderness
Stewards of the Wilderness is offered on Mallard Island in Rainy Lake. Through it, those who foster the legacy of Ernest Oberholtzer want to expand the inspiration and education that comes from or during a six-day stay on Mallard, offered in mid-August to a small and select group of college-age “stewards.”
This program was designed by Mr. Daniel Andersen, educator. It will be available in part thanks to the recruiting assistance and championing of three individuals at three academic institutions in this region:
- Christie Manning, Macalester College – Asst. Professor of Environmental Studies and Psychology, especially working on climate.
- Alan Brew, Northland College – English, and Alan is also head of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute.
- Erika Bailey-Johnson, Bemidji State University – Sustainability Director. Also an activist/lobbyist and an enrolled Red Lake member.
Mallard Island is a unique island location with old cabins, communal eating, beautiful vistas and no running water. It was the home place of wilderness advocate, Ernest Carl Oberholtzer, who before Sigurd Olson and with many other key environmental leaders, developed and designed policies leading to the BWCAW. “Ober” may still be the least-known among them. And while he was traveling and writing wilderness policy, Ober was also modestly developing this tiny 1100-foot rocky island in the toe of a huge watershed flowing south into Rainy Lake, west to the Rainy River and on to Lake of the Woods. Ober never worked alone, and one important element of his long life on Rainy was his valuable and lasting friendship with the Anishinaabe people. They were both his helpers and his teachers, enlightening Ober to a different world view, and one that he deeply respected.
What a fantastic place to teach, we believe, and what a unique natural spot to essentially reward students who are already committing to careers stemming from environmental studies. These teachers and Daniel will recruit a group of college students to come together for three basic lines of learning:
- Who was this man named Ernest Oberholtzer, and what is this island and his continuing legacy?
- What about the Anishinaabe: their history, ceremony or traditions, and their contemporary thriving culture?
- Details of sustainable living both on the island and in the Rainy Lake region.
A week on Mallard Island also includes great meals prepared with and for each other, work projects for a couple of hours each day to improve the island or its buildings, and personal time or study time to glean from a number of good readings and background resources. There are hikes in nature, archives to dive into, and canoes to paddle. We will offer traditional Anishinaabe ceremonies when elders are available.
If you wish to be considered a “Steward of the Wilderness”, please apply. Applications are due June 15. The growing cadre of Steward cohorts will become a community of ongoing relationships.
