There’s been a justifiably great hue and cry over actions of federal agents in Minnesota during the ICE surge of recent months. Many people have gone missing and others have been murdered. But the Indigenous people of North America have been dealing with missing and murdered relatives ever since Columbus stumbled onto this continent. Murder … Read more
In November, 1862, following a bloody conflict with white settlers and soldiers in southern Minnesota, more than 1600 Dakota women, children, and the elderly were imprisoned in a concentration camp at Fort Snelling. The fort was built at the confluence of the Minnesota River and the Mississippi. The Dakota call this place B’dote, “where two … Read more
This past year has been one of the busiest I can remember, which has proved to be both exciting and exhausting. In the last twelve months, I’ve made 85 in-person appearances across the country and 25 virtual appearances from my home. I’ve promised myself (and my wife) that I will cut back on my commitments … Read more
Honestly, January 1, 2024, seems like eons ago. So much has happened in the past year, so many wonderful memories created. From an Edgar nomination (didn’t win) to a Boundary Waters adventure to a whirlwind tour that ended with an epic battle between me and a stuffed rattlesnake, the year has been filled with delights. … Read more
A couple of days ago, I returned from spending some time in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to return to that particular Eden on earth. I was there as part of a program offered by Wilderness Inquiry, a well-established organization devoted to making wilderness … Read more