Bear Witness

What would you do to protect the place you love? Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Wilderness is a wild landscape of lakes, streams, woods and wildlife covering 1.1 million acres along the US-Canadian border. A quarter of a million people visit every year. This natural wonder supports almost 17,000 jobs in Northeastern Minnesota. To Amy and Dave Freeman, this place is home. Just three miles from the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), Twin Metals Minnesota hopes to implement a massive sulfide-ore mining project that would jeopardize the BWCAW for generations to come. The Freemans realized their unique relationship to this landscape could help the movement to block the proposed mining. For the last year, the Freemans have lived inside the Boundary Waters, broadcasted photos and stories via satellite receiver and hosted politicians, journalists and activists. “It’s up to us to speak loudly for this quiet place,” says Dave Freeman. “It is up to us to bear witness.”