What's at stake...

Hello, I'm Tim Tynan, producer, PhD student, and educator in Madison, Wisconsin. Like you, I'm concerned about the environment, tribal sovereignty, and the influence of big business in government. Today I'm especially wary of the mining dangers posed to one of the most precious and pristine ecosystems in the Great Lakes: the sloughs (pronounced "slews") at Bad River. 

The Bad River and Kakagon sloughs compose the largest undeveloped wetland system on the Great Lakes. Because of its size, uniqueness and varied plant life, the Kakagon Sloughs is a designated National Natural Landmark. The 16,000 acre Bad River-Kagagon complex is diversely populated with over 28 plant communities and is home to over 70 rare plant and animal species. Groups like The Nature Conservancy and the Bad River Watershed Alliance have been working tirelessly to maintain the quality of the watershed in partnership with the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.  The Wisconsin Wetlands Association named the Kakagon-Bad River Sloughs one of Wisconsin�s 100 Wetland Gems, noting the �extensive size and high quality of these Great Lakes coastal wetlands.�

But to the native people at Bad River, the sloughs are much more. Because of the abundant wild rice (manoomin) the sloughs are a cultural and spiritual treasure like no other. In fact, the meandering channels and bayou-like wetlands have been so coveted over the years, the Ojibwe have maintained a protective--almost secretive--relationship with the sloughs. But now, faced with perhaps the greatest threat the sloughs have ever faced, few people outside Bad River truly recognize what is at stake. 

The Short Films and Stunning Images

The video above is just a tiny sample ("teaser") of what we hope to accomplish with this campaign. The goal of this campaign is to produce the first in a series of visually impressive, short (10 to 15 min) films about the sloughs, wild rice, Bad River, and the people likely to be most impacted if a mine were to open in the vicinity. The goal is simply to impress upon others what is at stake here. The short films will join a larger traveling exhibit about the same topics and will also include live narrators, artifacts, and other stunning images. We hope the exhibit can start making the rounds later next spring. 

Your Contribution, Your Perk

Thankfully, nearly all the production time and work will be donated for this project. The $2400 is for licensing the footage, pictures, music, and compensating elder interviewees who participate in this first short film, "The Bayous of the North". 

Every contributor will receive a post-card thank you note featuring one of the images in the film. Contributors who give $25 will also receive a pound of hand-harvested wild rice from the sloughs. Those who give $50 will receive the wild rice and a limited-edition print of one of the stunning images in the film. If you give $100, you will receive the wild-rice and your print will be signed and framed! Want to be listed in the credits as an Associate Producer, then give $500-- you also get the wild rice and framed image! Executive Producers include anyone who gives $1000 and up.  In addition to the credit acknowledgement, wild rice and framed image, Executive Producers also receive a special recognition certificate to be included in the traveling exhibit.

Other Ways You Can Help

Please share this link and request others to share! This effort is so much larger than a fund raising campaign. This outreach and education initiative is critical to protecting the ecological and cultural treasures in and around the Bad River Indian Reservation.