Maintaining a Healthy Boundary (Waters)

On today’s episode, we take a bite out of the Super National Forest, Boundary Waters, and Voyageurs National Park. These sacred and beloved lands have been a major topic of concern and discussion this summer, with destructive wildfires raging across tens of thousands of acres of land for the umpteenth summer in a row in Northern Minnesota. 

We talk to an educator, colleague, and friend who possesses an embodied knowledge about the interdependence of the water, land, wildlife and knowledge ways that face immense upheaval in light of a 20-year mining ban being lifted by Congressional decree and the threat it poses to the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness, Superior National Forest, and nearby Voyageurs National Park. 

Chanda Blesi-Geyshick (buleezi-geejick) is a gakijiwanong (gah-key-jee-win-ong) anishinaabe first nation educator, artist, and advocate hailing from International Falls, – a city that sits on the colonial Minnesota / Canada border and is located 11-miles West of Voyageurs National Park. Chanda sat down with me to recall some of her favourite memories of growing up and continuing to hold a relationship with her hometown; discuss some major concerns about the lifted mining ban; and reflect on other moments in modern history where indigenous nations and their treaty rights were not honored when it comes to money-making land grabs.

Relevant Links: 

• Letter from Gakijiwinong Anishinaabe Nation Chief Carrie Atatise-Norwegian about meeting with state legislators and a memorandum of understanding between tribes affected by potential BWCA mining: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18gARgx2QE/
• Letter from Voyaguers National Park superintendents regarding mining ban reversal: https://www.voyageurs.org/news/superintendents-letter  
• Official language and co-sponsors of House Joint Bill 140: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/140/cosponsors  
• Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issues executive order directing state agencies not to provide permits that would allow mining to move forward: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/08/18/walz-executive-order-block-copper-mining-near-boundary-waters 
• Press release from Save the Boundary Waters explaining how the U.S. Senate passed legislation that unravels protections for the Boundary Waters: https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/breaking-news-release-us-senate-just-passed-legislation-unravels-protections-boundary-waters
• Article outlining Minnesota State Representative Pete Stauber's role in lifting mining ban: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/02/05/stauber-reintroduces-bill-to-reverse-mining-ban-near-boundary-waters  
• Article explains the 20-year mining ban that was undone by Congress's vote: https://www.eenews.net/articles/congress-overturns-bidens-boundary-waters-mining-ban/  

Creators and Guests

Host

R.B. Brooks

Your Midwestie Bestie

What is Take the Last Bite?

Take the Last Bite is a direct counter to the Midwest Nice mentality— highlighting advocacy & activism by queer/trans communities in the Midwest region. Each episode unearths the often disregarded and unacknowledged contributions of queer & trans folks to social change through interviews, casual conversations and reflections on Midwest queer time, space, and place.

For questions, comments and feedback: [e-mail]

Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them

Cover Art: Adrienne McCormick