In this edition, producer Martha Marnocha travels to Toimi, Minnesota. It was once a remote community of Finnish homesteaders, but is now mostly forest and a few scattered buildings along a Lake County highway. But once you leave the main paved road, you may find surprising remnants of the area's 100-year-old history. The historic Toimi School is located on Forest Highway 11, approximately 31 miles north of Two Harbors. The Toimi Children's Cemetery is 1⁄2 mile south of the school on Murphy Lake Road (Lake County 15).
Traveling the Old North Shore is funded in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Traveling the Old North Shore - The Toimi Children's Cemetery

Program host Erik Redix recently visited with Obizaan--Lee Staples, a Mille Lacs elder and first speaker of Anishinaabemowin. In this episode Obizaan's apprentice Chato Gonzales translates what Obizaan has to say about teaching respect for all things--our elders, the animals, trees, the water--and how he believes that these cultural beliefs about teaching and learning respect relate to the National problem of gun violence and mass shootings.

Anishinaabe Bizindamoo Makak Episode 21 - Obizaan - Lee Staples

Hosted by Erik Redix, Grand Portage Ojibwe Language Coordinator, Anishinaabe Bizindamoo Makak is a bilingual program featuring first speakers telling stories in Ojibwemowin and English. Erik's guests for Episode 22 are Obizaan--Lee Staples, a Mille Lacs elder and his assistant Chato Gonzales. Obizaan shares teachings about gichichagonan--the spirit within, and why going to ceremony and learning and speaking Ojibwemowin is so important for Anishinaabe people.

Anishinaabe Bizindamoo Makak Episode 22

WTIP Hosts Spruce Budworm Forum on March 21

Anna Hennessy completed her first Iditarod Sled Dog Race.  WTIP talks with Anna about the highs and lows of her rookie run.

Anna Hennessy Iditarod

Downtown Grand Marais has had many changes through the decades. Producer Martha Marnocha explores a bit of downtown history with help from two long-time residents: Butch Schulte and Sherrie Lindskog.
They share memories of when Santa visited the North Shore Theater, Brazell Motor Freight, Cherry's Bakery, Jackson's Cafe' and other downtown businesses.
Additional credit to Eugene Glader's Downtown Grand Marais, Volumes 1 and 2, and the Cook County Historical Society archives.

Traveling the Old North Shore -  Downtown Grand Marais

Photographer Jean Brislance

Knowledge Bowl Heading To State Meet

Local Business Spotlight: White Pine Lodge

Hosted by Erik Redix, Grand Portage Ojibwe Language Coordinator, Anishinaabe Bizindamoo Makak is a bilingual program featuring first speakers telling stories in Ojibwemowin and English. In this short story from Episode 22 Mille Lacs elder Obizaan–Lee Staples, shares teachings about gichichagonan–the spirit within, and why going to ceremony and learning and speaking Ojibwemowin is so important for Anishinaabe people.
With thanks to the Blandin Foundation and the MN Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Obizaan on Ojibwemowin, Women's Intuition and the Spirit Within

Northern Gardening April 2024

Grand Portage residents Julie and Jess Koski have been walking across the United States to raise awareness about overdose prevention and harm reduction. They began their journey in Acadia, Maine on July 1st, 2023 and arrived at the Pacific Ocean in California on April 5th, 2024--a distance of 3,676 miles. 
WTIP's Staci Drouillard asked how they were feeling after completing this physically and mentally challenging accomplishment and if they experienced any personal transformations or revelations over the course of their 8.5 month adventure.
Reporting is supported in part by the Blandin Foundation

Walk For The Love: Colorado to California

Cook County Assessor Bob Thompson talks newly updated property values for Cook County

Bob Thompson 2024 Property Values

Grand Marais author Joe Friedrichs talks with WTIP's CJ Heithoff about his latest book "Last Entry Point: Stories of Danger and Death in the Boundary Waters"

Joe Friedrichs Last Entry Point

Local Business Spotlight: Joynes Ben Franklin

Local bird photographer Jean Brislance talks about how he and his father, David Brislance came to be included in the newly released book, The Breeding Birds of Minnesota.

Jean Brislance - The Breeding Birds of Minnesota

WTIP's Chuck Olsen had the rare opportunity to visit the Spirit Tree as part of Heart of the Continent Partnership’s Winter Gathering in February of 2024. Night sky photographer, author, and Grand Portage tribal member Travis Novitsky led a small international group of public land stewards down the path to visit the sacred tree and share some of the history of how the Spirit Tree was returned to tribal ownership.

Spirit Tree visit with Travis Novitsky

Mark Zierath performs beautiful fingerstyle guitar on Scenic Route

Mike Littfin seeks reelection for a fifth term to the Arrowhead Cooperative board district 4 seat. He is challenged by Tony Everson.

Arrowhead Cooperative District 4 - Mike Littfin (incumbent)

Tony Everson is seeking election to the Arrowhead Cooperative board for district 4. He is running against Mike Littfin.

Arrowhead Cooperative District 4 - Tony Everson (challenger)

In Part 1 of a two-part series, producer Martha Marnocha explores the history of Silver Bay and the events that led to a landmark environmental lawsuit related to Reserve Mining Company and Lake Superior water quality.

Lake Superior Project - Reserve Mining Part I

In Part 2 of a two-part series, producer Martha Marnocha explores the legacy of the Reserve Mining Company lawsuit and its environmental impact.
Pictured: Reserve Mining tailings ponds and dam at Mile Post 7. Courtesy of Save our Sky Blue Waters.

Lake Superior Project - Reserve Mining Part II

The mission of this ongoing series is to explore where our community fits into the bigger picture of racial inequality and the history of our public institutions. In Episode 16 our hosts Staci Drouillard and Tyler Howell present an early history of schools on the North Shore of Lake Superior, beginning with the very first religious-run school on the banks of Omiimiiziibi-The Pigeon River.

"It Happens Here" is funded in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

It Happens Here - Episode 16 - Assimilation

Pat Eliasen live music on Scenic Route 5/24/24

Splints new album interview on Scenic Route 5/31/24

Traveling the Old North Shore is a WTIP multi-part series focusing on the history of this diverse region.
In part one of a two-part edition, producer Martha Marnocha takes us on a trip to a special lake at the very end of the Gunflint Trail.

Traveling the Old North Shore - Saganaga Lake, Part I

Traveling the Old North Shore is a WTIP multi-part series.....focusing on the history of this diverse region.
In part two of this two-part edition, producer Martha Marnocha takes us on a trip to a special lake at the very end of the Gunflint Trail.

Traveling the Old North Shore - Saganaga Lake, Part II

YMCA Camp Menogyn held its annual pancake breakfast fundraiser on Sunday, May 26th. It was a gorgeous late spring day as camp alumni, supporters and volunteers traveled by canoe or pontoon across West Bearskin Lake to enjoy some pancakes, see old friends and meet new ones, and raise funds for the one hundred and two-year-old non-profit organization. WTIP spoke with Forrest Ahrens, a lifelong member of the Menogyn family who recently stepped into the role of interim executive director after the recently-announced retirement of longtime executive director Meghan Cosgrove.

YMCA Camp Director Forrest Ahrens

The Lake Superior Project is an ongoing series focusing on the environmental news and human history of the Lake Superior region.
In this segment, North Shore resident Alta McQuatters shares the story of White Sky Rock, which overlooks Caribou Lake near Lutsen, Minnesota. Named after White Sky Geezhik, the summit marks the place where White Sky once had a trapper shack.
The Lake Superior Project is funded in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Lake Superior Project - White Sky Rock

National Weather Service Meterologist Woody Unruh Meterologist - Wednesday June 19

Finding Nemo Play with Sue Hennessy

Ezme Mundell Speaks With Finding Nemo Play Kids & Interns

Tofte District Ranger Interview

The full audio of Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers's presentation to the Cook County Board of Commissioner Committee of the Whole meeting on June 18 regarding a discrepency in the voting district maps and state system.

Braidy Powers on districting error

Minnesota Department of Agriculture Pest Mitigation and Regulatory Coordinator Danielle DeVito talks about the risks posed by spongy moth spread, as well as what the state is doing to manage the invasive species.

Danielle DeVito on spongy moth management

Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen - After Flooding & Storm Check-in

Garth Anderson on Scenic Route 6/21/24

It Happens Here is an award-winning series that explores the historical roots of race-based inequity on the North Shore. Episodes in the series explore the question, "how do we fit into the larger picture when it comes to racism and racial inequity." 
In Episode 17 Grand Portage elder and diversity  trainer John Morrin and Ojibwe language and culture teacher Anton Treuer take on "internalized negative stereotypes" and the danger of relying on a single story, when it comes to understanding the diverse and complex nature of our communities.

Popular tracks by WTIP Community Radio