A History of Fire in the Boundary Waters

A series of wildfires made headlines across Minnesota during the drought-plagued summer of 2021. Among them was the massive Greenwood Fire. This wildfire burned nearly 27,000 acres and led in part to the closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. And while some view them simply as destructive forces of nature, wildfires played a significant role in shaping what are considered today to be some of the most stunning landscapes across the most visited wilderness area in the nation. Historically speaking, across the 1854 Ceded Territory, which includes all of Superior National Forest and the BWCA, indigenous people have, for generations, engaged in the practice of intentionally lighting smaller, controlled fires with the intent of a specific outcome. These types of fires, commonly referred to as a process of ‘cultural burning,’ were set with specific outcomes in mind, including food, clothing, canoe making and other means of living with the land through the use of fire. In this audio feature, producer Joe Friedrichs explores the history of fire in the Boundary Waters, and why a team of researchers are currently trying to learn from the past to help create a better future for the forests of this remote wilderness.