Yesterday, approximately 80 hikers made the trek from LCO Harvest Camp up to the site of exploratory drilling taking place in the Penokee Hills. It was a peaceful event and hikers got to meet about 14 police officers from five different jurisdictions who were guarding GTAC, the mining corporation’s interests. There were no incidents, and hikers returned to Harvest Camp for some food and conversation. Photos: Ros Nelson
Four eagle feathers were tied to the cedar pole that was prepared to be used as an entry flagstaff to the LCO Harvest Camp in the Penokee Mountain Heritage Park. It was talked for by elder Joe Rose of Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, with the help of his son, Joe Dan, veteran Gary Quarderer and Paul DeMain. Joe Rose spoke about the 7th fire prophecy concerning the choice offered between following a hard path onto unlimited technological development versus a softer path away from the egocentric cash economy and towards clean water, air and wilderness. He reiterated that the Penokee mine will not be built, and that we will use any means necessary to stop it.
Joe Rose’s grandson Jackson ran around the camp and the woods nearby. Several neighbors stopped in for a cup of coffee and talk to find out who was living in these woods. They were invited to observe the ceremony conducted in a traditional way to open the gates of the camp with the symbol of a nearby family, clan and tribe living there now.
Everyone gathered to ask the spirit of all living things to watch over everybody, even Bill Williams, that guy who wants to destroy Heritage Park, the guy who needs the most help of all. Everyone, including our neighbors, put their hands on the pole as it was raised to the roar of shouts announcing that we are here to stay. A moment none of us will forget for some time.
Three different gardens have been planted at the camp. All are looking great. Everything from tomatoes to tobacco to ancient squash are leafing out in three sites!
The groundwork for building the structure that will eventually hold the collection for the Museum of Caucasian Existence in the Penokee Mountain Heritage Park is in the planning. Students from LCO Youth Camp will be coming up July 8th to help clear the foundation of the old school (Moore Park School) now re-named Skulan U. It will be used for a shelter and instructional facilities again.
Afterwards, we shared the fire, deer meat, wild onions, wild rice and swamp tea. It was a beautiful close to a weekend in Harvest Camp.
To join in protecting the Penokee Hills and waters, send a tax-deductible donation to:
Penokee Hill Education Project
P.O. Box 834
Ashland, WI 54806
Or
Defend the Bad River
P.O. Box 39
Odanah, WI 54861
Donate online at http://www.badriver-nsn.gov
Contributors: Paul DeMain, Nick Vander Puy, Ros Nelson
Tyler Fork River Photo: Rebecca Kemble
Copper Falls State Park is full. Consider booking a room at the casino or camping at LCO Harvest Camp. See below for directions.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Benefit for The Penokee Hills Education Project
Bad River Casino Convention Center
73370 U.S. Highway 2
Odanah, WI 54861
Located 10 miles east of Ashland, Wisconsin on U.S. Highway 2
6 PM Food
7 PM Music
Silent Auction 6 – 10 PM
Performances by
Red Cliff Hoop Dancers
Thistle & The Thorns (from Madison!)
Skip Jones
Barbara With
Wade Fernandez
Copper Falls State Park
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Annishinabeg Nation Treaty Rights Celebration
Copper Falls State Park
11AM – 3 PM
Feasting, drumming, singing, hiking
Tours of Lac Courte Oreilles Harvest Camp and Skulan University
3 – 6 PM
The Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Tribe has opened a treaty harvest and educational camp on public lands in the Penokee Hills. Fully permitted by the Tribe, the Harvest Camp give visitors a chance to explore the area from the ground and get to know the amazing abundance that the Penokee Hills provide. The tour will offer insights into gathering and foraging, and the chance to see what will be gone forever if the mine is built. Bring your tent and camp supplies and stay over night, or join a Saturday tour.
Foundation of an old school located near Harvest Camp
Lucky Rocket In Concert
1 – 6 PM
Upson City Park Local band Lucky Rocket will be rolling out the punches against the proposed Penokee Mountain Iron Mine. A rock opera in real time! Also a jam session, bring your instruments!
Ojibwe walleye fishing
9 PM Galilee Lake
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Picnic in downtown Mellen
1 – 3 PM AM
Happy campers visiting LCO Harvest Camp
Wild leeks or onions, sometimes called ramps, growing in the Penokee Hills. Photo: Nick Vander Puy
To get to LCO Harvest Camp:
From Mellen, go south on 13. Turn east on 77 toward Hurley. Go east approx 7 miles. At about mile 5.5 you cross the Iron/Ashland county line, and about another mile greeted on the right side with a sign that says “Welcome to historic Iron mining district.” 77 bends around but right after that sign, on the right is Moore Park Road. Turn south on it, up hill. Camp Plummer as the Harvest Camp is called, is at the end of the long stretch on the right in a little cubby hole in the woods cut by the county, just before you take a full turn east and go down to Tylor Forks boat landing.
Penokee Hills Education Center, 616 West Main Street, Ashland Wisconsin
Water Will Lead The Way
Join us for a celebration of water and a fundraiser for the Penokee Hills Education Project.
Bad River Casino Convention Center
73370 U.S. Highway 2
Odanah, WI 54861
Located 10 miles east of Ashland, Wisconsin on U.S. Highway 2
Friday, May 24, 2013
6 PM Food 7 PM Music
Silent Auction 6 – 10 PM
Performances by
Red Cliff Hoop Dancers
Thistle & The Thorns (from Madison!)
Skip Jones
Barbara With
Wade Fernandez
A campout at Copper Falls will follow the fundraiser
May 24-26, 2012
Reserve your campsite here
Top: The Penokee Hills, target of the 22-mile mountaintop removal open pit iron ore mine at the headwaters of the Bad River; Bottom: a mine in northern Minnesota showing the same area of devastation mining has caused there.
According to Indian County TV, the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Tribe has opened a treaty harvest and educational camp on public lands in the Penokee Hills.
The camp is located near the site of the proposed 21-mile mountaintop removal open pit iron mine (the largest in the world) that GTAC claims it will build, and upstream from the Bad River Reservation.
The Harvest Camp includes an area that hosted almost 200 Indian allotments in the late 1800 which were stolen or deceptively removed from Indian ownership in favor of wealthy investors of the original shaft mining in the area. Ancient mining artifacts in the region have been carbon dated to 260AD.
The camp will be open for hunting, fishing, harvesting and public recreational use as defined by treaty and public laws. Directions to the camp are here.
United In Defense of The Water 