Silent Auction/Family Fun day TODAY, Feb. 2, to raise funds for projected charter school

HANCOCK -- CAPE (Community Alliance for Progressive Education) is hosting a Silent Auction/Family Fun day from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. TODAY, Saturday, Feb.2, at the Orpheum Theater, 426 Quincy St, Hancock. The event will include live music, games, art projects, a story corner, and a silent auction. CAPE's objective is to raise enough money for the application fee to become a Non-Profit organization, which is the first step towards their application to become a charter school.

Admission to the event itself is free, with a suggested donation of $2 per person. For questions or comments, please contact Sarah Kirchner at skirch01@yahoo.com or (906)370-6073.

Community Arts Center to offer birch bark workshops Feb. 9, 10, 16

HANCOCK -- Hancock artist Karen Tembreull will teach two separate workshops using birch bark as the medium. Birch Bark Sewing Kit Workshop takes place from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, and Sunday, Feb. 10. Birch Bark Scissor Sheath Workshop takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16.

TODAY, Saturday, Feb. 2, is the last day to register for the Birch Bark Sewing Kit Workshop. Workshop fee is $95. Materials fee: $50 for kits and patterns, due to the instructor upon arrival at the workshop. (Photo of sewing kit, above left, courtesy Copper Country Community Arts Center.)

Saturday, Feb. 9, is the last day to register for the Birch Bark Scissor Sheath Workshop. Workshop fee: $65 if registered and paid by Feb. 2; after Feb. 2, $75. Materials fee: Kits and patterns are provided by the instructor for $30 each, due upon arrival at the workshop. (Photo of scissors sheath, pictured at left, courtesy Copper Country Community Arts Center.)

Both sessions happen at the Copper Country Community Arts Center, located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. Call 482-2333 for more info. Full class information can also be found at www.facebook.com/CCCAC/events.

"Greetings from the Yellow Dog!" watercolors by Kathleen M. Heideman-Rydholm on exhibit through February in Marquette

MARQUETTE -- The exhibit "Greetings from the Yellow Dog!," featuring watercolor paintings of the Yellow Dog Plains by Kathleen M. Heideman-Rydholm, will be on display throughout February at Babycakes Muffin Co., 223 W. Washington St. in Marquette.

"Marsh Lake, Grassy Edge" (original watercolor) by Kathleen M. Heideman-Rydholm. Beavers stay busy, dredging bottom-muck from Marsh Lake. In several spots, their mud and sapling lodges lie exposed. The water has dropped many inches since spring, leaving the lower portion of the grassy hummocks visibly blackened. (Image © and courtesy Kathleen M. Heideman-Rydholm. Reprinted with permission.)

In her artist's statement Heideman writes, "These watercolors document the wild beauty of the Yellow Dog Plains of northwestern Marquette County, especially remote scenes connected to the historic "Bentley Trail" that once connected the McCormick Wilderness and the Huron Mountain Club. The Yellow Dog Plains are a unique and fragile ecosystem, a glacial outwash feature visible from satellite images, where jack pines grow taller and straighter than anywhere else, and rivers slope away to Lake Superior in all directions."

The artist notes her goal is seeing, painting details of the landscape and hoping to remember them.

"Just over the horizon, through trees draped with bearded lichen, Rio Tinto's Eagle Mine gnaws a hole in the fabric of this natural world," she adds. "Often my subject is fleeting -- spears of buttery sunlight, green shadows, rain dripping from pines, fog burning off a pond at dawn. I am trying to capture ephemeral details of weather and landscape, especially intersections of water and underlying geologies."

The watercolors in this exhibit were painted en plein air, Heideman notes, and are dedicated to the memory of her late father-in-law, C. Fred Rydholm.

Kathleen M. Heideman (photo, left) was named a 2011 fellow of The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico, receiving a three-month artist residency in Taos. As a fellow of the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Artists and Writers Program, she worked with scientists at the South Pole, McMurdo science station and various remote field camps. In 2010, Heideman served as writer-in-residence with the Andrews Experimental Forest (OR), artist-in-residence at the Aspen Guard Station in the San Juan National Forest (CO), artist-in-residence at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (WI) and artist-in-residence at Badlands National Park (SD).

She is also a poet and the author of two chapbooks: Explaining Pictures to a Dead Hare, and She Used to Have Some Cows; and a collaborative artist book, TimeUponOnce (MN Center for Book Arts).

Heideman is the Board Vice-President of Save the Wild U.P.

To see more of Heideman's work and read more about her, visit her Web site.

Babycakes Muffin Co. store hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. For information, visit babycakesmuffincompany.com, email kdcakes@aol.com or call 906.226.7744.

Articles, videos report testimonies at 12-hour Jan. 23 hearing on Wisconsin mining bill

By Michele Bourdieu

MADISON, WIS. -- In the past week since the Jan. 23rd public hearing on Wisconsin's proposed "new" mining legislation in Madison, Wis., several articles and YouTube videos have been posted on the Internet to publicize the pro-mining bias of several legislators conducting the hearing as well as the testimonies of both Native and non-Native residents of northern Wisconsin who would be most impacted by the environmental effects of a proposed 21-mile open-pit iron mine in the Penokee Hills.

Aerial view of the Penokee Hills, where Gogebic Taconite plans to put an open-pit iron mine. This photo shows the south and east side of the proposed Penokee mine site: Looking northeast, where Mud Creek meets Mead Creak and the Tyler Forks. (File photo © Pete Rasmussen, Moving Water Photography, and courtesy Penokee Hills Education Project. Reprinted with permission.)

Many of these residents traveled nearly six hours by bus to attend the 12-hour hearing and had to wait hours to give their testimony. Not all of them were able to speak.

One of the most revealing of these testimonies -- near the very end of the hearing -- concerned campaign donations to some of the legislators present, including Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst), co-chair of the hearing, who attempted to silence the speaker.

In her Jan. 24, 2013, article "The Million Dollar Bill," on Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative, Rebecca Kemble (pictured left), Wisconsin Capitol reporter, says, "Of the nearly $1million in campaign donations to 20 Senate and Assembly mining committee members by interests backing mining deregulation, $74,000 went to Sen. Tiffany, according to Victoria McMurray, who cited Wisconsin Democracy Campaign finance records. Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) was the biggest recipient, cashing in nearly half a million in campaign contributions, while Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) came in third with $52,000 in donations."* (Photo of Rebecca Kemble © and courtesy Hannah Nyoike.)

Kemble's article includes this video clip of McMurray's testimony:

Victoria McMurray -- the second-to-last speaker at the Jan. 23, 2013, hearing on Wisconsin's proposed "new" mining bill -- reports campaign donations to mining committee legislators from donors who favor mining deregulation. Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) -- the second-largest of these recipients -- cuts her off, allows one more speaker and then ajourns the hearing. (Video © and courtesy Nicole Desautels Schulte. Republished with permission.)

Kemble also notes, "The corporate influence and biased nature of the proceedings were evident throughout the day. According to Williams’ rules (Mary Williams (R-Medford, co-chair with Tiffany of the hearing) the bill’s sponsors would be given 10 minutes to speak, and the Department of Natural Resources would be given 5. Everybody else was supposed to restrict their remarks to 2 minutes, with time allowed for committee members to ask a maximum of two questions.

"But it was no surprise when the CEO, Chief Engineer and lobbyist for Gogebic Taconite (GTac) -- the company that is proposing to blast a 1,000 foot deep open pit mine 21 miles long and half a mile across at the headwaters of the Bad River near the shores of Lake Superior -- took up nearly an hour of the committee’s time. GTac was also allowed to show pictures and graphs -- something others were prohibited from doing."*

This week Kemble was interviewed by Math Rothschild, editor of The Progressive magazine, on "The People's Mic." The 8-minute audio interview, "The Progressive Magazine's Rebecca Kemble Explains the Mining Bill," is available online.**

Update: The radio interview (Part 2) continues today with Kemble's answers to callers.**
Update: Part 3 of the radio interview is now on line: "Rebecca Kemble Discusses the People Behind the Mining Legislation ."

Kemble describes for the radio audience the atmosphere of the hearing, noting that hundreds of people who attended the hearing did not get to testify. She points out that the very purpose of passing this bill into law is to allow GTac to construct their open-pit mine in the Penokees -- or possibly just to give GTac investors. She also notes the determination of the Native American groups opposing the mine, in particular the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, whose water and wild rice crop are at risk. She quoted one medicine woman from Bad River at an anti-mining rally last Saturday as saying "people are willing to die for this -- put their bodies on the line in large numbers" to prevent the mine from being built.**

Rebecca Kemble, Wisconsin Capitol reporter, takes photos at the "Protect Wisconsin's Waters" rally on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. Kemble has written several articles covering Wisconsin mining bill issues and Native American concerns about the proposed Gogebic Taconite open-pit mine that would threaten water resources near Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin. (Photo © and courtesy Michael Matheson)

On Jan. 25, 2013, Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative published Kemble's article, "Wisconsin Tribal Members Speak Out on Mining Bill." The article has excerpts from testimonies by members of the Bad River, Red Cliff, Lac Courte Oreilles and Lac du Flambeau bands of Lake Superior Chippewa as well as Ho Chunk and Menominee tribal members, who made the journey to Madison for the one and only public hearing allowed on this mining legislation.

One of these was Michael Isham, member of Lac Courte Oreilles and chairman of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) Board, who said, "'The state does not have the ability to legislate treaty rights away. The wild rice is sacred, and that’s why the reservation is there. I don’t know of any wild rice left downstream of these mining sites in Minnesota. This would be completely devastating. Has DNR and Army Corps of Engineers consulted with the tribes as is required by executive order?'"***

Michael Isham, member of Lac Courte Oreilles and chairman of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) Board, speaks at the Jan. 23, 2013, hearing on the proposed Wisconsin mining law at the Capitol in Madison, Wis. (Photo © and courtesy Rebecca Kemble)

The article also quotes Mike Wiggins Jr., Bad River Tribal chairman, as saying, "'I look at all of you, and you’re 75 percent water, probably Madison Municipal water supply. We are 75 percent water from aquifers deeper than 1,000 feet that you’re not holding GTac accountable for. Because we’re directly downstream and set to endure the impacts of this project, we view this as an imminent threat. We view this as an act of genocide.'"***

Mike Wiggins Jr., right, Bad River Tribal chairman, speaking at the Jan. 23, 2013, public hearing on the proposed Wisconsin mining bill, calls the potential GTac open-pit mine "an act of genocide." Testifying with Wiggins is Frank Connors, Bad River Council member. (Photo © and courtesy Nicole Desautels Schulte) Click here to see Desautels Schulte's video clip of Wiggins' testimony at the hearing.

Allie Raven of Bad River asked the legislators why mining is their only answer to economic development in northern Wisconsin: "'Strip mining is a lazy legislative answer.
Wasting time and energy on a catastrophic mining bill is irresponsible. Is beating this dead horse the best you can do to help us? I hope not. If you are serious, let’s see some fresh ideas. Come up and work with us. Act decisively to restore our faith in you and the legislative process.'"***

During her testimony at the Jan. 23rd hearing on the proposed Wisconsin mining bill, Allie Raven, Bad River member, asks legislators to work with the people in northern Wisconsin on creating sustainable jobs rather than mining. (Photo © and courtesy Rebecca Kemble)

Raven mentioned she was impressed to hear one legislator at the hearing, Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-71), speak about solar energy development. Raven also spoke about efforts to grow local food, including school gardens.

Click here to see a video of Allie Raven's full testimony at the hearing, by Nicole Desautels Schulte (photo at left), who videotaped the entire 12-hour hearing and has been posting video clips of testimonies on YouTube. Schulte also volunteers her time for the Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative. Click here to see more of her videos.

Other speakers at the hearing mentioned initiatives for sustainable economic development being considered and attempted as an alternative to mining.

Scott Griffiths, mayor of Washburn, Wis., a town located about 40 miles from the proposed mine site, was one of these. He attacked the mining legislation as opening the door to environmental disaster.

"Let's look at helping the local food economy," Griffiths said.

Kelly Westlund, member of the Ashland City Council and small business owner, also spoke about local food systems -- small family farms and organic gardens in the area that depend on the water. Click here for a video of Westlund's testimony by Nicole Desautels Schulte.

A busload of about a dozen students from Northland College in Ashland rode down to the hearing and waited hours to testify. Those who were able to testify spoke of their love for the area and the proximity of Lake Superior. Some were students in Northland's environmental studies program and also mentioned the potential for wind power, solar energy and local food production as ways to save the economy without ruining the environment.

On Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, opponents of the mining bill held a "Protect Wisconsin's Waters" rally in front of the Capitol in Madison. On Jan. 29, 2013, The Wisconsin
Citizens Media Cooperative published Leslie Amsterdam's photos and videos of that event, the Jan. 23rd hearing, and the Jan. 13th Idle No More protest in Madison. Click here to see these.

On Jan. 28, 2013, The Progressive magazine published an article by Rebecca Kemble titled, "Bad River Chippewa Take a Stand Against Walker and Mining." In this article Kemble mentions the importance of treaty rights between the Anishinaabe and the federal government and describes the risk to the wild rice beds and water resources of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

"Should the mining bill become law in Wisconsin, the best chance of voiding it will be in federal courts on the basis of those treaty rights," Kemble writes in this article. "That’s a battle that would begin with an injunction against implementing the new regulations, but could go on for decades, costing the Bad River Band millions in legal fees, taking up resources they could be using to support the health and well-being of their members."****

Although the Jan. 23rd hearing was the only official one allowed on the bill, Kemble also notes that Democratic legislators have scheduled a "listening session" on the bill for Feb. 9, 2013, in Ashland.****

Notes:

* Click here to read Rebecca Kemble's article, "The Million Dollar Bill."

** Click here to listen to the radio interview, "The Progressive Magazine's Rebecca Kemble Explains the Mining Bill." Click here for the second part, "Rebecca Kemble Talks to Callers about the Mining Legislation." Click here for Part 3 of this interview: "Rebecca Kemble Discusses the People Behind the Mining Legislation."

*** Click here to read Rebecca Kemble's article, "Wisconsin Tribal Members Speak Out on Mining Bill."

**** Click here to read Rebecca Kemble's Jan. 28, 2013, article, "Bad River Chippewa Take a Stand Against Walker and Mining."

Editor's Note: This information is thanks to personal contact through Facebook with Rebecca Kemble, Nicole Desautels Schulte and Allie Raven. Keweenaw Now thanks them and the Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative for sharing photos, video and quotations from their articles. The Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative is a volunteer organization. You can support their work by clicking on the donate button on their Web site: http://wcmcoop.com/ .

Wednesday night dance lessons offered in Houghton

HOUGHTON -- Keweenaw Social Dance is hosting Wednesday night dance lessons from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the 7th floor of the Best Western Magnuson Square Inn in Houghton. Only $5 cover, but all those who attend can have $6 salad bar if they wish. Learn anything -- East Coast Swing, Waltz, Cha Cha, Argentine Tango, Slow Dance, Blues, Salsa, Merengue, Jenka, Foxtrot, or more!

For more info email keweenawsd@gmail.com or call (906) 370-9532.

First Friday in Calumet to offer exhibits, art activities for all

CALUMET -- First Friday in Calumet, Feb. 1, will feature art exhibits, a special unveiling, and art activities for young and old.

Galerie Bohème

At Galerie Bohème this First Friday, Joanne Lynn Thomas will unveil her portrait of "Big Annie" Klobuchar Clemenc, titled "Visions of NADA," showing another side of the legendary local hero. An opening reception will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Margo McCafferty will present her artist's book "Genetic Baggage."

Artworks, by Stuart Baird, Tom Rudd, Georgi Tsenov and other local artists will also be on exhibit. So stop by, be enlightened, have a glass of something, a cracker, cookie, a lump of cheese and a talk with friends.

Galerie Bohème is at 423 Fifth Street in Calumet. Gallery winter hours are 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information call Tom Rudd at 906.369.4087.

Calumet Art Center

Bring the entire family to the studio level of the Calumet Art Center on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, as part of the First Friday experience in Calumet. Enjoy the creative experience of making your own artist trading cards. Materials will be available to construct the cards. Or feel free to bring your own materials to construct cards with a Valentine theme.

Doors of the Calumet Art Center will be open from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bring the whole family and experience First Friday in Calumet.

For more info call (906) 934-2228.

Copper Country Associated Artists

At the Copper Country Associated Artists Gallery at 205 Fifth Street, Nancy McCabe will be conducting a beginner watercolor workshop on First Friday, Feb. 1.

Participants will do a study of trees using watercolor technique. There will be one session at 7 p.m. sharp, free and open to the public. All materials will be provided and refreshments will be available. Come and enjoy!

Upcoming Events at Copper Country Associated Artists:

March: At the start of the Copperdog 150 on the First Friday of March, the Hancock Girl Scouts will be doing Face Painting, with donations going to the Copper Country Humane Society.

April: Get ready for Spring with a slide show of local butterfly photography.

Update: Ziyad and Co. Gallery

"The Visit," painting by Pam Urbis. (Photo courtesy Ziyad and Co.)

February is the month of artist choices at Ziyad and Co. art gallery. This month artists were asked to pick some their favorite pieces to be presented in the February show. The exhibit will feature a wide range of work -- including painting, photography, drawing or paint, wood, stone, metal, paper, colored pencil and fiber. Stop by, warm up and take a look at what the artists have picked for the favorites.

An opening reception will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on First Friday, Feb. 1, at Ziyad and Co. art gallery, 109 Fifth St, Calumet. For more information call 906-337-5970 or email at ziyadgallery@gmail.com.

KBIC Elder speaks against wolf hunt at DNR Citizens' Advisory Council meeting

By Michele Bourdieu

At their Jan. 14, 2013, meeting at Michigan Tech, members of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Western Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council listened to comments by Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Elder Earl Ojiingwaanigan on why the Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) respect the wolf as a brother and why the recent Michigan legislation to allow a hunting season for wolves is wrong. (Photos by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Elder Earl Ojiingwaanigan of Crystal Falls made a second trip to Houghton this winter in order to defend the wolf in the face of new Michigan legislation, PA 520, which would allow a hunting season for a creature the Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) consider to be their brother.

"In our culture the wolf is our brother. The wolf is wise, and he is a teacher," Ojiingwaanigan told members of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Western Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council on Jan. 14, 2013, at their meeting in Houghton. "Why do you want to kill the wolf?"

At the Jan. 14 meeting Ojiingwaanigan had to wait until the comment period at the very end to make his statement. Here is his presentation, in two video clips, concerning the Ojibwe beliefs about the wolf and why this legislation, signed by Gov. Snyder on Dec. 28, 2012, opposes the Native American way of thinking about the wolf, respecting Mother Earth, and protecting the environment.

During the public comment period at the end of the Jan. 14, 2013, meeting of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Western Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council at Michigan Tech, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Elder Earl Ojiingwaanigan speaks about the Ojibwe beliefs concerning the wolf. (Videos by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

Ojiingwaanigan continues ...

KBIC Elder Earl Ojiingwaanigan continues his presentation on the wolf at the Jan. 14, 2013, meeting of the DNR Western Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council.

Ojiingwaanigan had previously made the trip to Houghton for the scheduled Dec. 10, 2012, meeting of the DNR Western Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council, which was cancelled at the last minute because of a weather advisory. A small group of citizens who had also come to Michigan Tech for that meeting, unaware of the cancellation, listened to Ojiingwaanigan talk about the wolf, and Keweenaw Now videotaped and posted his comments.*

Charlotte Loonsfoot, standing, KBIC co-organizer of recent Idle No More events in Baraga, attended both wolf presentations by KBIC Elder Earl Ojiingwaanigan, left, at Michigan Tech and has expressed her concern about the wolf hunt, noting the wolf's  survival is related to the survival of the Anishinaabe's brothers and sisters in Canada, where the Idle No More movement for treaty rights and environmental justice originated recently.

During the month between the two meeting dates, SB 1350 was passed by the Senate and the House and signed into law by Gov. Snyder (on Dec. 28, 2012) as PA 520 with immediate effect.

This law states as follows:
Sec. 40110b. (1) The legislature finds and declares that:
(a) The wildlife populations of the state and their habitat are of paramount importance to the citizens of this state.

(b) the sound management of wolf populations in this state is necessary, including the use of hunting as a management tool, to minimize negative human and wolf encounters and to prevent wolves from threatening or harming humans, livestock, and pets.

(2) The legislature hereby authorizes the establishment of the first open season for wolf. The commission may issue orders under section 40113a establishing annual wolf hunting seasons throughout the state.**

KBIC Wolf Management Plan opposes wolf hunting

On Jan. 10, 2013, KBIC posted its revised Wolf Management Plan, stating its purpose is "to provide a course of action that will ensure the long-term survival of a self-sustaining, wild gray wolf (Canis lupus) population in the 1842 ceded territory in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan."

This KBIC Plan and Ojiingwaanigan's comments reflect the direct opposition between the legislators' concept of "management" of the wolf through hunting and the Native Americans' purpose of management to protect the wolf's survival.

"In the event that legislation is enacted for a wolf hunt, KBIC will designate the Home Territory, approximately 3.9 million acres within the 1842 Treaty area, as Wolf Sanctuary where sport hunting and/or trapping will not be allowed," the Plan states. "In addition, KBIC will not provide Tribal wolf hunting permits to community members. These measures will help to protect wolves and maintain a strong culturally based stance against the killing of wolves. KBIC Natural Resource Department will also participate in and maintain close communication with those involved in wolf monitoring and control of human-wolf conflicts. As funding allows, we intend to increase monitoring of wolves on and near the Reservation preferably with tracking of radio-collared wolves to keep tabs on any changing status of wolf packs."***

In the audience at the Jan. 14 meeting of the Citizens' Advisory Council, in support of Elder Earl Ojiingwaanigan, are other KBIC members, including, pictured here, John Loonsfoot, left; Georgenia Earring, second from left; and E Halverson, right (second to last row). These three and Charlotte Loonsfoot (pictured above) gave their comment time to Ojiingwaanigan for his presentation, though he had to condense what he wanted to say because the comment time was still limited.

KBIC is among several groups opposing this new law, PA 520.

An organization called Keep Michigan Wolves Protected states this on their Web site: "There are fewer than 700 wolves in Michigan and their numbers are only now starting to recover. It’s not right to spend decades bringing the wolf back from the brink of extinction only to turn around and allow them to be killed for sport.

"Keep Michigan Wolves Protected is seeking to collect more than 225,000 signatures of Michigan voters to place a referendum on the ballot. If we are successful, a proposal will appear on the Michigan statewide ballot in 2014 that would allow voters to choose whether or not to enact the legislature’s wolf hunting law."****

The National Wolfwatcher Coalition, Inc, supports this signature campaign for a ballot referendum in Michigan.

According to their Web site, wolfwatcher.org, "This referendum initiative will give Michigan residents the opportunity to repeal this law (PA 520). Wolves belong to all of us and with less than 700 wolves in the State, we support the right of Michigan voters to decide whether wolves should be hunted."*****

In Minnesota, the organization Howling for Wolves has been actively opposing the Minnesota wolf hunting and trapping season. They note on their Web site the Anishinaabe view of the wolf as a brother: "In the Creation story of the Anishinabe (Chippewa) American Indians man and wolf walked the Earth and named all living beings and then parted ways to live separately but in peace as brothers. So in Minnesota all the American Indian tribes banned the hunting and trapping of wolves on tribal lands. The Anishinabe believe that their fate is directly related to that of the wolf."******

Notes:

* See: "UPDATED: KBIC elder comments on proposed wolf hunt despite cancellation of DNR meeting."

** Click here to read the final version of PA 520, signed by Gov. Snyder on Dec. 28, 2012.

*** Click here for the KBIC Wolf Management Plan dated Jan. 10, 2013.

**** Visit the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected Web site to learn about the signature campaign.

***** See the Jan. 17, 2013, article, "Wolfwatcher Supports 'Keep Michigan Wolves Protected'" to learn more. See also the Jan. 23, 2013, article, "CALL to ACTION: Michigan Tribes Line Up to Protect Michigan Wolves," on Native News Network.

****** See Howling for Wolves to learn about the gray wolf.

Portage Library to host program on local environmental stewardship opportunites

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host Houghton High School student Samir Nooshabadi from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, for his presentation on "Caring for Tomorrow, Today: An Explanation of Environmental Stewardship Opportunities in Our Local Community."

Nooshabadi will talk about the importance of environmental conservation and explain ways people can help conserve the environment locally. Several environmental organizations will be discussed; and he will describe how they function, discuss what specific activities they do, explain why those activities are important, and let people know how they can become involved and make a difference in their community. He will also discuss regional environmental issues including the proposed open-pit iron ore mine in the Penokee Hills near Ashland, Wisconsin.

Nooshabadi is a junior at Houghton High School and spent last semester at Conserve School in Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin. Conserve School is a semester school that focuses on environmental conservation. His hope is to inspire people to help preserve the natural beauty of the earth.

Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve to host ski trip along Yellow Dog River Feb. 2

BIG BAY -- Join Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve (YDWP) members for a friend-raising/fundraising ski this Saturday, Feb. 2. Meet at the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve office (303 Bensinger, Big Bay) at 10 a.m.

Yellow Dog River. Ski along this beautiful river with Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve members this Saturday, Feb. 2. (Photo courtesy Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve)

The group will carpool to the river and take a lovely ski along the river's edge. They will stop for a campfire, snacks, and cups of hot tea/cocoa provided by YDWP.

The ski will last for 3-4 hours and you will need to have your own ski equipment (back country skis would be the best, but cross country could work too). Intermediate to experienced skiers are welcome on this particular trip. Contact YDWP if you are up for skiing a beautiful place and meeting the people who care for it! RSVP by calling
906-345-9223 or email mindy@yellowdogwatershed.org. Donations accepted and encouraged!

Learn more about Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve by visiting their Web site.

Idle No More spirit walk in Watersmeet CANCELLED Jan. 28

WATERSMEET, MICH. -- The Idle No More spirit walk that was scheduled by Lac Vieux Desert for this afternoon, Monday, Jan. 28, has been cancelled. Roads are hazardous.