Sparking a Larger Story: Return of Fire to Minnesota Point

For the first time in more than 150 years, fire (“Ishkode” in Ojibwe) is returning to Minnesota Point. A prescribed cultural burn this fall will clear accumulated underbrush and tree debris to restore the ecosystem, allowing native species like red pine and blueberries to regenerate while also mitigating wildfire hazards.

University of Minnesota Duluth Assistant Professor Jonnelle Walker, a Fond du Lac Ojibwe descendant, researches and teaches about the Indigenous history of Duluth and traditional ecological knowledge, highlighting the historical stewardship practices that maintained these forests. Walker views the return of fire as a spark of a much larger story, hoping it will make Indigenous stewardship methods central to how the land is managed in the future.

The video was produced by David Cowardin for UMD Marketing and Public Relations.