Event Details
Join the St. Louis River Alliance and Valerie Ross Zhaawendaagozikwe on Saturday, September 15th from 1-2:30 p.m. for a Fall River Connection Plant Walk. Come with us as we explore the diverse flora of Thomson Reservoir, learning about the plants, their characteristics and uses, and how to sustainably harvest them so they stick around for us and future generations. This will not be a foraging walk, but rather an opportunity to connect with and build appreciation for all that grows throughout the estuary.
This class is free and open to the public, but registration is greatly appreciated. Please register at: https://forms.gle/rNvJznDsWaE2gvtV7
****Thomson Reservoir is an active Area of Concern construction site, so please be mindful and cautious of road and construction traffic. We will meet at the UMD Outpost Parking Lot located at 903-999 E Hwy 210 in Carlton. There will be very limited parking and SLRA staff will direct you to overflow parking if necessary. PLEASE CARPOOL IF YOU ARE ABLE.
Barb Huberty with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will be in attendance to share about the St. Louis River Area of Concern cleanup efforts making the reservoir safer to recreate on. We will have free snacks and foraged tea to sample. Dress accordingly as the trail could be muddy and buggy; please wear stable shoes. The event will be held rain or shine, unless lightning is present in which we will cancel.
About the Presenter: Valerie Ross Zhaawendaagozikwe
Enrolled: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe/Long Plains First Nation; Duwamish, Dakota, Ojibwe, and Yakama.
University of Wisconsin Superior Environmental/ Biology B.S.
Valerie has over ten years of experience studying and connecting with the local flora. Rooted in a deep respect for nature and traditional knowledge, she works to specialize in specific plant types or ecosystems, offering unique insights into the cultural and ecological significance of native plants. Through the years spent looking for plants, she has shared a passion for the land and water, helping others discover the medicinal, edible, and spiritual qualities of the plants that have long sustained Indigenous communities. She would also like to mention that she may only know a bit more than the average person, but she can spend her entire life learning about plants and still know very little about their unique lives.
About the Event
This event is made possible through the Great Lake Restoration Initiative and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and is intended to reconnect those who have been historically cut off from the river due to various reasons. Therefore, priority is given to those living in one of the 18 neighborhoods adjacent to the St. Louis River including: Carlton/Thomson, Cloquet/Scanlon, Cody, Denfeld, Fairmont, Fond du Lac Reservation, Fond du Lac Neighborhood, Gary-New Duluth, Irving, Lincoln Park, Morgan Park, Norton Park, Oneota, Riverside, Smithville, and Spirit Valley.
If online registration is not accessible to you, please call 218-733-9520. If we are unavailable, leave a message stating your name, age, phone number, and any accessibility considerations. We will call you back to confirm registration and answer any questions you may have.