May 8, 2025
Contact:
- Lukas Leaf, Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters, (612) 270-6805, Lukas@sportsmenbwca.org
- Libby London: (612) 227-8407, Libby@SavetheBoundaryWaters.
- Chance Adams, MN Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (218) 766-9673
(St. Paul, MN) – Today, a powerful coalition of conservation groups will gather at the Minnesota State Capitol to rally in defense of America’s public lands—especially Minnesota’s crown jewel —the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Advocates, outdoor enthusiasts, and public lands supporters will unite to send a clear message: public lands deserve lasting protection.
The event is organized by Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters, Minnesota Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Save the Boundary Waters, Trust for Public Land, Minnesota Conservation Federation, Audubon Society, Minnesota Trout Unlimited, National Parks Conservation Association, and Voyageurs Conservancy.
The rally will be emceed starting at 4 pm by Outdoor News publisher and co-owner Rob Drieslein, with featured speakers U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Mark Kenyon—host of MeatEater’s Wired to Hunt podcast and author of That Wild Country, Tony Jones, author of The God of Wild Places and host of The Reverend Hunter podcast, and Ingrid Lyons, Executive Director, Save the Boundary Waters. A public after-party will follow at Dual Citizen Brewing in St. Paul, beginning at 5:30 p.m., offering an opportunity for continued conversation and community connection.
“The Boundary Waters are a national treasure and one of the most pristine wilderness areas in the country. And yet, Republicans in Congress are trying to roll back protections and open the door to sulfide mining right on the doorstep of the Boundary Waters. We’ve studied this kind of mining and the risk to the BWCA is too great. Once those waters are polluted, there’s no going back,” said U.S. Senator Tina Smith. “That’s why we’re coming together to rally and call attention to what’s at stake. We’re not going to sit here quietly while Republicans try to give a foreign company the green light to mine and ship our minerals overseas for a quick profit.”
“I'm thrilled to be standing up alongside hundreds of other public land owners and outdoor recreators in support of our public lands and the Boundary Waters this Thursday at the Minnesota State Capitol. At a time when our nation's wildlife and wild places are facing threats from all angles, our voices and actions are needed now more than ever. I wouldn't miss this for the world,” said Mark Kenyon
WHAT: Rally for the Boundary Waters and public land at the Minnesota Capitol
WHO: Citizens, legislators, advocates. Emceed by Rob Drieslein, Outdoor News publisher and co-owner
Speakers include:
- U.S. Senator Tina Smith
- Mark Kenyon, host of MeatEater’s Wired to Hunt podcast and author of That Wild Country
- Tony Jones, author of The God of Wild Places and host of The Reverend Hunter podcast
- Ingrid Lyons, Executive Director, Save the Boundary Waters
WHERE: Minnesota Capitol Rotunda, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55155
WHEN: TODAY, Thursday, May 8, from 3-5 pm (Rally sign making station from 3-4 pm, speakers begin at 4 pm)
About the organizers:
Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters: Founded in 2015, Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters works to conserve the land, water, and wildlife that make the BWCA an iconic place to fish, camp, hunt and explore. The organization’s mission is to protect the integrity of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its watersheds for huntable and fishable populations of fish and wildlife, now and forever, through advocacy and education.
Save the Boundary Waters: Save the Boundary Waters unites people to advocate for the protection of wilderness and wild places, especially the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the greater Quetico-Superior Ecosystem.
MN Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: Backcountry Hunters & Anglers seeks to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands, waters, and wildlife.
Minnesota Conservation Federation: MNCF is a conservation organization made up of anglers, hikers, hunters, paddlers & others who are dedicated to the enjoyment & ethical use of our natural resources. Since 1936 the Minnesota Conservation Federation (MNCF) has been an advocate for the natural resources of our great state.
National Parks Conservation Association: The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is a non-profit dedicated to protecting and enhancing America's national parks for present and future generations.
MN Trout Unlimited: Minnesota Trout Unlimited represents several thousand members and five chapters in Minnesota. Our mission is to conserve, protect, restore, and sustain Minnesota’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.
Trust for Public Land: works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they're needed most, as a matter of health, equity, and justice.
Voyageurs Conservancy: is the official nonprofit partner of Voyageurs National Park, helping you explore, support, and protect your park.
Audubon Society: Incorporated in 1905, the National Audubon Society is one of the oldest and most effective bird conservation organizations in the Western Hemisphere.
Background:
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is the most visited Wilderness Area in the United States, attracting more than 165,000 visitors from across the world. It is a major driver of the regional economy, supporting hundreds of businesses and thousands of jobs. A vast collection of peer-reviewed science shows that if a Twin Metals copper-nickel mine were built along the rivers and streams flowing into the Wilderness, pollution and environmental degradation would be certain. Now more than ever, protections put in place for the Boundary Waters are threatened by both administrative and legislative actions.
Our vast public lands estate provides access and opportunities for hunters, anglers, and all outdoor recreationists across the United States. Yet privatization and development pose an ever-increasing threat to wild places that should remain open to the public. Many sportsmen and women have nonexistent or limited access to private lands and rely on public lands and waters to enjoy the pursuit of fish, game and a love for the great outdoors.