At the headwaters of Lake Superior lies the St. Louis River, known to local Anishinaabe as Gichigami-ziibi ‘the River that flows into the great waters’. For nearly 14,000 years, Native people have relied on the river for food, medicine, transportation, sport, and enjoyment.

In 2020, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior designated the St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail, and it is now included in the National Parks Trail System. This is a major accomplishment that is a result of a river in restoration. However, as more people are drawn to experience the St. Louis River, it is more important than ever for us to share the stories of those who have forever called this land their home.