>> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> IN THIS NEXT HOUR, WE'LL HAVE STORIES FROM GREATER MINNESOTA, FROM ALL CORNERS OF OUR STATE, INCLUDING THIS RECLAIMED MINE PIT.

THERE'LL BE A COMBINATION OF OLD AND NEW, SERIOUS AND LIGHT.

AND IT'S ALL COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

♪♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY: GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES TO 28 CO-OPS IN MINNESOTA, A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION, MAKING DENTAL CARE POSSIBLE FOR MINNESOTANS IN NEED.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM.LINETHREEUS.

AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA: THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

"ONE GREATER MINNESOTA" REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UPPER MIDWEST.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT COMES FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION, INSPIRING AND ENGAGING IN ACTION TO REALIZE STRONG, VIBRANT COMMUNITIES; AND FROM THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION.

>> WE'LL START THE HOUR WITH A RECENT TRIP UP TO THE IRON RANGE, AND I'M SITTING HERE AT THE SOUDAN MINE, THE BIRTHPLACE OF MINNESOTA'S MINING INDUSTRY.

WE'LL TAKE YOU DOWN TO THE UNDERGROUND MINE, AS WELL AS TALK TO LOCAL OFFICIALS AND SEE HOW THEY'RE MAKING THIS REGION A RECREATIONAL DESTINATION.

THE SOUDAN UNDERGROUND MINE IS THE OLDEST IRON ORE MINE IN THE STATE.

IT STOPPED OPERATING IN THE 1960S.

LATER, IT OPENED BACK UP AS A STATE PARK AND TO VISITORS.

THE PANDEMIC SHUT IT DOWN AGAIN.

BUT STARTING THIS SUMMER, THE UNDERGROUND TOURS ARE BACK.

>> THESE ARE THE HELMETS.

>> OH, I SEE, IT'S PRETTY EASY.

>> BEFORE PLUNGING A HALF MILE DEEP INTO THE EARTH, GUIDE JUSTIN LINDGREN GAVE US A LITTLE HISTORY AND GEOLOGY LESSON.

>> IT'S OPEN PIT MINING IS HOW WE BEGAN.

WE DISCOVERED AFTER 10 YEARS OF MINING, WE HAVE DIFFERENT-SHAPED ORE BODIES HERE.

NORMALLY IRON IS IN A BIG FLAT LAYER BECAUSE IT'S SETTLED OUT OF SEAWATER.

HERE ON THE VERMILION IRON RANGE, WE HAVE WHAT ARE CALLED LENSES, OR COLUMNS OF ORE SITTING IN THE GROUND, AND THEY'RE SITTING AT A 78-DEGREE ANGLE.

SO THEY JUST CALLED UP.

THAT MEANS WE'RE READY TO GO DOWN.

YEAH, YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL THAT CHANGE IN PRESSURE.

>> WILL I FEEL CLAUSTROPHOBIC?

>> IT CAN FEEL VERY TIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

>> THE TOP SPEED DOWN WAS 11 AND A HALF MILES AN HOUR.

IT FELT A LOT FASTER AS WE DESCENDED MORE THAN 2,300 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE.

>> LEVEL 22, AND YOUR WORK DAY DOESN'T TECHNICALLY START TILL YOU ARRIVE IN THE AREA.

>> COOL AIR PRESSURE FROM HEAT RISING FROM BELOW AND COLD AIR TRAVELING DOWN MEANS THE MINE IS ALWAYS 52 DEGREES ALL YEAR LONG.

>> SO JUST SO YOU GUYS LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE AREA THAT YOU'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS LEVEL 27 OF THE MINE.

THIS IS THE DEEPEST LEVEL THAT SOUDAN DEVELOPED.

>> THEN IT WAS A SHORT RIDE DEEP INTO THE MINE.

WE GOT TO RIDE ON RAIL CARS.

BUT BACK THEN, ONLY THE ORE GOT TRANSPORTED BY RAIL.

THE MINERS HAD TO WALK IN ON FOOT IN NEAR TOTAL DARKNESS.

SO DID THE MINERS WHO PLAY THIS GAME, DO THEY CONSIDER DANGEROUS WORK?

>> YES.

>> SO THEY KNEW THEY WERE TAKING THEIR LIVES.

>> THEY KNEW WHAT THE DANGERS WERE.

THEY DID.

>> SOUDAN IS THE OLDEST AND THE DEEPEST AND, INCIDENTALLY, THE RICHEST ALSO HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> POINTER HAS BEEN WITH THE PARK FOR 17 YEARS.

HE SAYS THE TOURS OFTEN GIVE PEOPLE A NEW APPRECIATION FOR THOSE EARLY MINERS.

>> THIS IS JUST A HUGE PIECE OF MINNESOTA HISTORY.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE MINE, I MEAN, WE NEED A STEEL FOR EVERYTHING WHEN THE COUNTRY WAS GROWING.

AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK.

IT'S JUST THAT IMPORTANT.

IT RANKS UP THERE WITH THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

AND SO PEOPLE JUST NEED TO LEARN THAT HISTORY AND WHAT PEOPLE DID TO BE ABLE TO HELP BUILD THIS COUNTRY AND THE SACRIFICES THEY MADE AND THE CONDITIONS THEY WORK IN.

>> THE SOUDAN MINE DATES BACK TO 1882.

IT WAS RELATIVELY SAFE, THOUGH.

SOME WORKERS DIED IN THE OPEN PIT.

THE MINE GAVE JOBS TO IMMIGRANTS FROM ACROSS EUROPE.

THEY OFTEN COULD NOT SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER, BUT HAD TO TRUST EACH OTHER IN ORDER TO MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.

>> BELIEVE ME, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

THE MINERS ARE EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO EACH OTHER, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONLY WAY THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS GETTING OUT OF HERE AND THEY'RE THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GETTING OUT OF HERE.

>> THE MINERS WOULD BLAST AND DRILL FOR A KIND OF IRON ORE CALLED SPECULARITE, IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST GRADES OF IRON IN THE WORLD.

THE WORK CAUSED MANY TO LOSE THEIR HEARING, LIKE THIS RETIRED MINER.

>> LOST 75% OF MY HEARING.

AND IT'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO LIVE A LIFE.

>> WHILE THE SOUDAN UNDERGROUND MINE FOCUSES ON WHAT IT WAS, SOME ARE ALSO EXPLORING WHAT AN OLD MINE CAN BE.

25 MILES OF MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN ABANDONED MINE PITS IN CHISHOLM.

THE TRAIL HEAD IS AT THE MINNESOTA DISCOVERY CENTER.

RIGHT BEHIND US IS FIVE DIFFERENT MINE PITS THAT KIND OF MERGE TOGETHER THAT WERE AN ACTIVE MINING PIT.

SO WE GET TO LOOK RIGHT OVER INTO THE GRAND CANYON OF THE >> THE IRON RANGE MUSEUM USED TO BE RUN BY THE STATE.

A DECADE AGO, IT BECAME A NONPROFIT WITH BIG DREAMS.

BUT THE MINE PITS WERE OFF LIMITS.

NEW LEGISLATION OPENED THEM UP TO THE PUBLIC.

JOHNSON SAYS RECLAIMING THE MINE AS A RECREATION CENTER IS KEY TO THE AREA'S FUTURE.

>> WE KNOW MINING ISN'T GOING TO LAST FOREVER, AND I THINK TOURISM AND RECREATION IS A REALLY STRONG FUTURE FOR OUR AREA.

SO WE WANT TO KIND OF BE THAT MECCA.

>> OFFICIALS HOPE A MIX OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DOLLARS TO OPEN THIS LAKE IN AN OLD MINE PIT WILL BRING IN THE TOURISTS.

STARTING THIS SUMMER, KAYAKERS AND CANOERS WILL GET TO PADDLE IN THE MINE PIT RESERVOIR FOR THE FIRST TIME.

A SHUTTLE FROM THE DISCOVERY CENTER WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT TO THE WATER.

JOHNSON SAYS IT'S A NEW WAY TO ENGAGE WITH THE PAST.

>> NOW WE'RE EXPANDING BEYOND JUST THAT HISTORY AND BRINGING THAT HISTORY OUT INTO THE PARK AND INTO THE LANDSCAPE.

>> THIS BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC BUILDING BEHIND ME IS HASTINGS' CITY HALL.

IT USED TO BE THE DAKOTA COUNTY COURTHOUSE.

IN THIS NEXT STORY WE'LL VISIT ANOTHER HISTORIC COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA UNDERGOING A $2.5 MILLION RENOVATION.

♪♪ STEP INSIDE THE MARTIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND YOU SEE A STORY OF THIS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FARMING COMMUNITY.

THEIR AMBITIONS AND DREAMS IN 1907.

>> THE MURALS WERE DESIGNED AND PAINTED BY AN INDIVIDUAL AND ARTIST FROM MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, HE WAS A GERMAN IMMIGRANT, VERY RENOWNED FOR HIS WORK.

AND EACH ONE OF THOSE MURALS REPRESENTS SOMETHING.

>> WAR.

PEACE.

GENIUS AND INSPIRATION.

THESE MURALS ARE TUCKED INSIDE A 58-FOOT-TALL DOME ABOVE A BEAUTIFUL ROTUNDA.

ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS PRESERVED THROUGH TIME, AIMED TO IMPRESS.

>> I GUESS I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PRIDE IN THAT STRUCTURE IN THE COUNTY.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD WANT TO SEE IT DETERIORATE.

YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF REPRESENTS THE COUNTY AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR.

>> WHICH IS WHY IN 2018, THE COUNTY EMBARKED ON A $2.5 MILLION RENOVATION.

MAJOR LEAKING AND RUST DAMAGE THREATENED THE COPPER DOME, TOWER AND ROOF.

ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES SINCE 1977, OFFICIALS WANTED TO SAVE IT.

>> IT'S A COSTLY PROJECT.

BUT IN THE SAME TOKEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A BUILDING THAT'S ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND WITH WHAT THAT STRUCTURE IS LIKE, IN MY OPINION, IS MONEY WELL SPENT.

>> THE FIRST COURTHOUSE DATES BACK TO 1862.

IT WAS A WOODEN STRUCTURE BUILT FOR $200 ON THE GROUNDS OF FORT FAIRMONT, A MILITARY FORTRESS BUILT IN RESPONSE TO THE DAKOTA UPRISING.

IN 1882, A SECOND COURTHOUSE WAS BUILT FOR 12,000.

BUT IT WAS LATER CONDEMNED.

THAT'S WHERE CHARLES BELL COMES IN.

>> WELL, THERE'S NOT A LOT TO BE KNOWN.

HE WAS BORN IN 1858 IN ILLINOIS.

>> FIRST A CARPENTER, BELL MOVED INTO DESIGNING COURTHOUSES IN THE MIDWEST AND EVEN A FEW STATE CAPITOLS.

>> HE'S NOT A HOUSEHOLD NAME BY ANY MEANS.

HE DIDN'T DO, EXCEPT LOCALLY LIKE THAT, VERY LOCALLY.

HE DIDN'T DO ANY BUILDINGS THAT ARE OF NATIONAL RENOWN.

HE JUST APPEARED TO BE A WORKADAY TYPE OF ARCHITECT, OF WHICH MOST OF THEM WERE.

>> ABLE TO DESIGN FUNCTIONAL BUILDINGS IN A BORZA STYLE.

BELL GAVE MARTIN COUNTY WHAT IT WANTED.

>> SOMETHING THAT WILL LOOK PRESTIGIOUS AND SOMETHING THAT REFLECTED THE WEALTH OF THE COUNTY.

THE COURTHOUSE COST $125,000.

A WHOPPING SUM IN 1997.

THREE STORIES OF FIREPROOF, LIMESTONE AND SANDSTONE AND TOPPED BY A COPPER DOME AND CLOCK TOWER.

THE CLOCK WAS MADE BY FAMED MAKER SETH THOMAS.

IT ALL WOWED EVEN THEN GOVERNOR JOHNNY JOHNSON.

>> THE CORNERSTONE WAS LAID IN LEVELS OF 1986.

THE DEDICATION WAS IN DECEMBER OF 1907.

THE DEDICATION WAS A VERY WELL-ATTENDED EVENT.

PEOPLE CAME ON TRAINS, HORSE AND BUGGY.

THE ENTIRE COURTHOUSE IS DRAPED IN FLAGS.

GOVERNOR JOHNSON GAVE WHAT THE NEWSPAPERS STATED WAS A LENGTHY EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEECH.

>> IT IS A LOVELY COURTHOUSE.

AND THAT'S THE THING ABOUT SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

THEY HAVE SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COURTHOUSES.

>> HE SAYS THAT'S BECAUSE MANY HAVEN'T NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

AND THEY WERE BUILT AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE WANTED TO PROJECT STRENGTH AND BEAUTY.

THEY'RE MOSTLY THESE BOZAR STYLE COURTHOUSES, YOU KNOW, A RENAISSANCE, YOU KNOW, STYLE.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT KIND OF STYLE, THINK ABOUT CLASSICISM.

>> PAIRED COLUMNS AND SYMMETRY DESIGN CHOICES MADE TO DEMONSTRATE CIVIC-MINDEDNESS AND DEMOCRATIC IDEALS.

BUT HISTORIC GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS CAN ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS.

THERE IS THE MURAL, I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED PEACE, WHERE WE HAVE THE NATIVE AMERICAN, HE'S KIND OF IN THE CORNER AND HE IS HOLDING PLANS OF THE COURTHOUSE, YOU KNOW, AND CONTEMPLATING WHEN THERE USED TO BE, YOU KNOW, PRAIRIE AND FOREST.

MAYBE HE'S THINKING OR HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE THINKING, OH, WOW, YOU KNOW, LOOK, LOOK AT THIS, THIS ADVANCEMENT.

LOOK HOW FAR THINGS HAVE COME, THAT KIND OF THING.

AND I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE PROBLEMATIC.

>> INSTEAD OF REMOVING THESE DEPICTIONS, GARDNER SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERPRETATION OF THEM.

LIKE AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

HAVE MORE VOICES, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE FOR A LONG TIME, WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE.

>> AND HERE'S A SAFE.

>> OH, WOW.

>> LOCAL HISTORIAN LENNY TVEDTEN PRESIDES OVER A WHOLE BUILDING FILLED WITH THE PAST.

HE EVEN HAS THE COURTHOUSE'S ORIGINAL SAFE.

>> WELL, THIS IS A PROGRESSION OF THE COURTHOUSES.

IT'S FREEDOM.

IT JUST REPRESENTS EVERYTHING THAT WE AS AMERICANS FEEL ARE IMPORTANT.

>> THE FIGHT OVER A $2.6 BILLION ENBRIDGE LINE THREE OIL PIPELINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST STORIES OF THIS PAST YEAR.

IT'S CAUSED DEEP DIVISION IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, INCLUDING AMONG NATIVE AMERICANS.

ONE NOTE BEFORE WE BEGIN.

ENBRIDGE IS A SPONSOR OF THE PROGRAM, BUT NO SPONSORS HAVE ANY SAY IN HOW WE COVER TOPICS.

TAYSHA MARTINEAU IS A MEMBER OF THE FOND DU LAC BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA.

>> WHEN WE FOUND THE SPOT, THERE WERE TWO EAGLES FLYING ABOVE IT, AND I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS IT.

>> SHE'S THE FOUNDER OF CAMP MIIGIZI, A RESISTANCE SETTLEMENT ON FOND DU LAC THAT'S FIGHTING TO STOP ENBRIDGE'S LINE THREE REPLACEMENT PIPELINE PROJECT.

>> I REALIZED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE A CAMP RIGHT NEXT TO ENBRIDGE SO THAT THEY KNOW WE'RE OUT HERE.

THEY KNOW THE OPPOSITION WITHIN FOND DU LAC IS VALID AND NOT EVERYONE IS IN AGREEMENT TO THIS PROJECT.

>> ENBRIDGE IS INSTALLING A NEW WIDER PIPE ACROSS 337 MILES OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

THE NEW PIPELINE WILL TRANSPORT CANADIAN TAR SANDS OIL TO REFINERIES IN SUPERIOR.

A MOTHER OF FOUR, MARTINEAU SAYS SHE WANTS TO STOP THE PIPELINE FOR THEIR FUTURE.

>> I'LL PUT MYSELF ON THE LINE, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL DO DIRECT ACTION AND I'LL PROTEST.

I'LL STAND IN FRONT OF A MACHINE SO THAT MY RELATIVES ARE ABLE TO PRAY.

>> FOND DU LAC IS ONE OF THREE SOVEREIGN NATIVE NATIONS THAT HAVE SETTLED WITH ENBRIDGE OVER THE REROUTING OF LINE THREE.

BUT DIVISIONS WITHIN THE TRIBE CAME TO A HEAD RECENTLY WHEN A FALSE BOMB THREAT INSIDE ONE OF THE PIPES ANGERED TRIBAL LEADERS.

MARTINEAU DENIES INVOLVEMENT.

>> I TOOK A KNEE.

I HUMBLED MYSELF BEFORE MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND I APOLOGIZED TO THEM FOR THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED.

BUT I'M DONE APOLOGIZING.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART TO STOP LINE THREE AND NO ONE'S GOING TO STOP US.

>> FOND DU LAC CHAIR KEVIN DUPUIS SAYS THE BAND ALLOWS MEMBERS TO PROTEST THE REPLACEMENT PIPELINE BUT TRIBAL DECISIONS MUST BE RESPECTED.

>> THE INCIDENT DID HAPPEN WASN'T AN ATTACK ON ENBRIDGE, WAS THE ATTACK ON FOND DU LAC AS IT HAPPENED WITHIN OUR 13.2 MILES.

>> DUPUIS SAYS THE BAND AGREED TO ROUTING THE REPLACEMENT PIPELINE THROUGH THE RESERVATION OUT OF SAFETY CONCERNS.

AND IT WAS BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE.

>> THE ORIGINAL PLAN, IF IT WERE TO GO THROUGH, WERE TO GO THROUGH THE CEDED TERRITORY.

AND WE DIDN'T WANT ANY NEW CORRIDORS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT GOING THROUGH THE CITY TERRITORY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, NOT TO HAVE ANY SAY SO IN IT WHATSOEVER.

>> DUPUIS WON'T SAY HOW MUCH THE FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT WAS WITH ENBRIDGE, BUT HE HINTED THAT IT INVOLVED HARD ISSUES THAT EXTEND BEYOND JUST LINE THREE.

>> WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THERE ARE STILL FIVE LINES IN THE GROUND, FIVE OF THEIR LINES.

SO WHOEVER IS GOING TO SIT HERE IN THESE POSITIONS HAS ADMINISTRATION HERE ARE GOING TO END UP DEALING WITH THEM SOMETIME.

>> WHAT THE BAND HAS NOT DONE, HE SAYS, IS BACK THE ENTIRE LINE THROUGH PROJECT.

>> I CAN TELL YOU HERE WHERE WE SIT RIGHT NOW THE AGREEMENT WAS ONLY 13.2 MILES.

AND IF THAT'S THE PERCEPTION THAT'S OUT THERE, THAT A COMPANY CAN SAY, WELL, WE HAVE THE BACKING, WE HAVE THE BACK OF WHOEVER.

AND I THINK THAT CAN BECOME AN ISSUE.

>> THERE ARE TRIBAL MEMBERS WHO ARE CLEARLY BENEFITING.

ASHLEY DIVER IS A MOTHER OF FOUR WHO HAS STRUGGLED FINANCIALLY.

>> SO I WAS MAKING $15 AN HOUR WORKING AS A CULTURAL ADVISOR AT MACHAKOS TREATMENT CENTER, AND I COULD BARELY PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

>> NOW, DIVER EXPECTS TO PULL IN $4,500 A WEEK AS A WELDER HELPER AT THIS PUMP STATION WEST OF DULUTH.

SHE'S ONE OF 150 NATIVE AMERICANS TO GO THROUGH TRAINING BY ENBRIDGE.

THE COMPANY SAYS NEARLY 400 TRIBAL MEMBERS ARE WORKING ON THE PROJECT.

DIVER SAYS SHE HEARS THE CRITICISMS.

THERE'S BEEN PEOPLE THAT WERE SAYING THAT I WAS A SELLOUT AND I WAS A TRAITOR.

AND, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE.

SO EITHER -- I WISH THERE WAS MORE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S PUT IN SAFELY.

>> STATE REGULATORS CLEARED THE PROJECT LAST YEAR.

CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN NOVEMBER.

TODAY, ENBRIDGE SAYS THE REPLACEMENT PROJECT IS ABOUT 50% COMPLETE.

>> YOU SEE THIS GREEN COATING ON THE PIPE?

>> YEAH.

>> SO THIS IS AN EPOXY COATING.

>> PAUL EBERTH IS NATIONAL DIRECTOR FOR TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT FOR ENBRIDGE.

HE SAYS REPLACING THE 1960S ERA PIPE IS SAFER.

>> IT FEELS GREAT TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

SIX YEARS OF RIGOROUS REVIEW FOR THIS PIPELINE PROJECT.

>> IN FEBRUARY, ENBRIDGE FILED A REPORT WITH THE STATE ON ITS TRIBAL INCLUSION EFFORTS, INCLUDING INVESTING A MILLION DOLLARS FOR RADIO AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND FOOD FOR ELDERS.

AND OVER $150 MILLION WAS INVESTED TO HIRE NATIVE OR TRIBAL-OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE STATE.

ENBRIDGE SAYS IT LISTENED.

>> THE PROJECT WAS REVIEWED OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT SIX YEARS, AND WE MADE ABOUT 320 ROUTE MODIFICATIONS DURING THAT ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT.

INPUT CAME IN NOT JUST IN THE TRIBAL RESOURCES SURVEY, BUT A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT WAS DONE BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, ABOUT 13,000.

THERE WERE NUMEROUS PUBLIC MEETINGS.

>> ABOUT 60 MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO PROTECT CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AREAS.

EBERTH SAYS THEY PRESENTED A STRONG CASE.

>> SOME CLAIM THAT THE DEMAND HASN'T BEEN PROVEN.

BUT RIGHT NOW, LINE THREE IS FULL.

IT'S OPERATING AT THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY THAT WE CAN OPERATE IT AT SAFELY TODAY.

AND THAT OIL IS GOING TO END USERS.

IT'S GOING TO REFINERIES AND IT'S DEMANDED TODAY.

>> BUT SEVERAL NATIVE TRIBES ARE FIGHTING THE PROJECT IN COURT.

THE MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE SAYS THEIR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

>> THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION HAPPENS, BECAUSE WE START, WAIT A MINUTE HERE.

NOW, YOU DIDN'T BOTHER TO COME AND TALK TO US AND HEAR AND UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR ISSUES ARE.

AND THAT'S THE ROUTE AS IT HAS TAKEN.

THINGS MAY HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IN THE BEGINNING IF WE WERE ABLE TO BE CONSULTED WITH FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE DISCUSSION SIX YEARS AGO.

>> THE LINE THREE REPLACEMENT ROUTE CROSSES JUST NORTH OF THE MILLE LACS BAND RESERVATION.

BENJAMIN SAYS THE SANDY LAKE WATERSHED WAS OF HIGH CONCERN.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE MAHNOMEN, THAT IT HAS A REALLY HIGH CULTURAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THE ANISHINAABE TO PROTECT, BECAUSE IF WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PREVENT THIS FROM MOVING FORWARD, WE WANTED A DIFFERENT ROUTE.

AND SO THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, IT'S ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS FORCED.

>> ENBRIDGE SAYS IT'S ENGAGED MORE WITH THE TRIBES THAN IT HAS FOR PAST PROJECTS.

>> MEANWHILE, ARGUMENTS IN STATE AND FEDERAL APPEALS COURTS ARE BEING HEARD ON THEIR CERTIFICATE OF NEED AND ROUTE.

>> ITS OWN NONEXPERTS UNINFORMED OPINION.

>> THIS OIL IS GOING OVERSEAS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOR THE UNITED STATES CONSUMPTION.

SO IT'S ALL BEING EXPORTED OUT.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHY DO THEY REALLY NEED IT?

JUST TO FILL THE POCKETS OF JUST A FEW PEOPLE?

>> FOR NOW, PIPELINE RESISTERS AT THIS CAMP NEAR PALISADE ARE GRATEFUL FOR A TEMPORARY WORK STOPPAGE BECAUSE OF FROZEN GROUND WATER.

JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE WATER PROTECTORS CAMP IS HERE, A BATTLEGROUND WHERE LINE THREE PIPE IS ALREADY IN THE GROUND AND CREWS ARE ON STANDBY WAITING FOR THE WEATHER TO WARM UP SO THEY CAN CONTINUE THE WORK DOWN THIS PATH AND UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

ENBRIDGE SAYS THE WORK WILL CONTINUE JUNE 1ST.

THAT CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS WHOSE COMMUNITIES DEPEND ON ENBRIDGE WORKERS.

>> WE'RE ALL VERY SMALL TOWNS.

AND WITH THIS LAST YEAR OF COVID, IT'S HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, FINANCIALLY.

ALL OUR HOTELS AND MOTELS WERE FULL.

THE RESTAURANTS AND THE GAS STATIONS ALL HAD BUSINESS.

AND NOW WITH THEM GONE FOR A MONTH OR SO, YOU CAN ALREADY SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

>> MCMURRIN ALSO WORKS FOR AN ENBRIDGE CONTRACTOR AND IS A MEMBER OF THE WHITE EARTH BAND.

SHE SAYS MOST OF HER COUNTY DEPENDS ON THE PIPELINE IN SOME WAY.

IS THERE IT'S GOING TO GET PUT IN, SO LET'S JUST WORK TOGETHER, MAKE SURE IT'S DONE SAFELY.

YOU KNOW, THEY KEEP DELAYING THE INEVITABLE IS ALL THEY'RE DOING.

GUESS WHERE THAT'S GOING TO TRICKLE DOWN TO?

EVERYBODY.

THE COST, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COST MORE TO GET THIS DONE.

>> LAST SUMMER, THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER WAS CANCELED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE POLIO OUTBREAK IN THE 1940S.

YET MANY TRIED TO KEEP SOME OF THE STATE FAIR TRADITIONS ALIVE, LIKE THE 4H SHOWCASE.

IN THIS NEXT STORY, I TRAVELED SOUTH TO FARIBAULT COUNTY TO MEET ONE 4Hers.

ONE YEAR AGO AT THE STATE FAIR, WE ASKED AUDIENCE MEMBERS, WHERE IN GREATER MINNESOTA SHOULD WE GO NEXT?

>> WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, YOU MADE A COMMITMENT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS STORY.

>> WE WILL GO.

>> DO YOU GUYS KNOW HOW TO DO A DRUM ROLL ON YOUR KNEES?

COULD YOU GIVE ME A QUICK DRUM ROLL?

OKAY, KAOMI, HERE YOU GO.

>> BRICELYN.

ROB S. WE DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT TO BRICELYN, BUT WE ENDED UP NEARBY TO MEET THIS TEENAGER.

>> 'M IZZY O'ROURKE AND I'M FROM WELLS, MINNESOTA.

>> IZZY, WHO IS 17, IS A SECOND-GENERATION SHEEP FARMER.

THIS YEAR IS THE FIRST IN 12 YEARS THAT SHE HASN'T SHOWN SHEEP AT THE STATE FAIR.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO IT A LOT.

IT'S ALWAYS THAT FUN THING WHEN WE FIRST START WORKING WITH THE LAMBS, BECAUSE WE GET THEM AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

THEY'RE ONLY LIKE THREE MONTHS OLD AND THEY'RE SO LITTLE BY THEN, YOU'RE LIKE, WOW, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW THIS TURNS OUT.

>> THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IZZY CARES FOR THE LAMBS, FEEDING AND WALKING THEM.

SHE KNOWS US WHAT THE JUDGES LOOK FOR.

>> SHE HAS REALLY GOOD STRUCTURE THROUGH HERE AND THROUGH HER OIN.

AND LIKE BACK BEHIND HER, SHE FLOWS IN NICELY BEHIND.

AND SHE'S ALSO LIKE A LEVEL TOP.

FOR HER, SHE'S REALLY GOOD AT STAYING LIKE LEVEL TOP AND SHE DOESN'T DIP DOWN OR ANYTHING.

>> FOR THE O'ROURKES SHEEP IS A FAMILY AFFAIR.

>> YEAH, YOU GRAB IT AND THEN I'LL FILL IT UP.

>> YOUR DAD SHOWED, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, MY DAD SHOWED.

>> SO IS IT LIKE A BONDING EXPERIENCE FOR YOU GUYS?

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STUFF, WE USUALLY END UP TALKING ABOUT THE SHEEP OR SPORTS IN SOME OTHER WAY.

USUALLY NOTHING ELSE SOMETIMES.

8 THIS IS NOT NORMAL.

>> MOM RENEE SAYS IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN BOTH HER HUSBAND'S AND HER KIDS' LIVES THAT THEY'VE HAD TO MISS THE FAIR.

>> IT'S JUST A GREAT TIME FOR ALL OF US TO SPEND TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, THE EXCITEMENT OF BEING UP THERE.

LET'S BE HONEST.

SWEET MARTHA'S COOKIES, FOOTLONG HOT DOGS ARE ABOUT ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE THINGS.

BUT IT'S KIND OF LIKE OUR FAMILY VACATION THAT WE'RE USED TO TAKING.

WE STAY IN A HOTEL FOR FOUR DAYS, AND IT'S A GREAT TIME TO HANG OUT, MEET NEW PEOPLE.

YOU SEE A LOT OF THINGS.

>> THIS YEAR'S FAIR CANCELATION DIDN'T STOP 4H KIDS FROM SHOWING THEIR PROJECTS.

IT'S JUST ONLINE.

A LOT OF THE YOUTH ARE USING THE CLOUD, YOUTUBE, FLIP GRID.

WE'VE ALL LEARNED A LOT ABOUT FLIPGRID THIS YEAR.

>> SOME PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN AN IN-PERSON SHOWCASE WITH MODIFICATIONS.

HERE'S FOOTAGE FROM THE WASECA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS.

THERE WERE FEWER SPECTATORS AND SOCIAL DISTANCES.

BASICALLY, WHEN YOU ENTER THE RING, YOU KNOW, THEY KIND OF LIKE USUALLY LIKE MAKE YOU DO LIKE A CIRCLE AND THEN YOU LIKE SET THEM UP.

SO LIKE WHEN YOU SET THEM UP, YOU LIKE RAISE THEIR HEAD UP AND THEN YOU WANT THEIR LEGS PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, THEIR BACK LEGS AND THEIR FRONT LEGS.

SO THAT'S WHAT GIVES THEM THAT NICE OVERALL LOOK.

AND THEN USUALLY THE JUDGE WILL COME UP TO YOU, MAYBE ASK YOU A QUESTION OR TWO, AND THEY'LL ALSO HANDLE THEM.

SO THEY'RE LOOKING TO SEE LIKE IN THEIR RIBS, IF THEY'RE FULLY COVERED.

AND THEY ALSO LOOK IN THEIR LOIN TO SEE HOW MUCH MEAT THEY HAVE BECAUSE IN A MARKET LAMB, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.

>> IZZY WAS A WINNER AT THE FARIBAULT COUNTY SHOWCASE.

SHE'S ONE OF 66,000 4HERS IN THE STATE COUNTY.

WINNERS GO AND SHE WILL GO ON TO THE STATEWIDE ONLINE SHOWCASE.

>> AND OFFICIALS KNEW IT WAS IMPORTANT TO STILL HAVE IT.

IT'S NOT HE SAME.

YOU CAN'T REPLACE THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR NOR ANY ONE OF OUR COUNTY FAIRS.

BUT THIS IS OUR WAY OF CREATING AN ALTERNATIVE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SHOWCASE THEIR LEARNING AND TO CAP OFF THERE FOR EACH YEAR.

>> THE LAST OF THE LIVESTOCK ONLINE JUDGING TAKES PLACE THIS WEEKEND.

SO EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T GET A JUNIOR PROM, IS SHE STILL -- IZZY STILL GOT TO SHOW.

>> IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT GETS PUT INTO IT, BUT DEFINITELY LIKE AFTER AND IN THE SHOWS, GETTING THE SUCCESS OUT OF IT.

THAT'S LIKE I THINK THE BEST PART ABOUT IT IS LIKE YOUR HARD WORK PAYING OFF IN THE END.

>> OF COURSE, WHAT WE WERE MISSING WAS THE FOOD.

I VISITED WITH A FEW STATE FAIR FOOD VENDORS TO GET A TASTE OF WHAT WE WERE MISSING.

IT'S STATE FAIR TIME.

AND NORMALLY SARA HAYDEN AND HER CREW WOULD BE GEARING UP TO MAKE NEARLY 20,000 PIES BY HAND.

BUT THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT.

>> THIS YEAR WOULD HAVE BEEN MY SIXTH YEAR.

SO IT'S WEIRD NOT TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AND HAVE THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU ONLY GET TO SEE FOR 14 DAYS.

I THINK I'M GOING TO MISS THAT.

>> THE FAIR IS WHERE SHE DEBUTS HER LATEST PIES THIS YEAR.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHERRY, CHERRY CREAM OR A SPICY REUBEN.

ALL OF HER PIES HAVE A LITTLE BOOZE.

>> SO THE ALCOHOL PIECE JUST KIND OF CAME IN BECAUSE I WAS GOOGLING DIFFERENT RECIPES AND I SAW ALCOHOL AND I THOUGHT, WELL, LIFT BRIDGE IS HERE IN STILLWATER AND THEY'RE REALLY NICE PEOPLE.

AND SO I LEFT THEM A COLD CALL YEARS AGO AND THEY CALLED ME BACK.

AND 8:00 IN THE MORNING I WAS DRINKING BEER WITH THE GUYS COUPLE -- TWO DAYS LATER.

SO THAT'S REALLY HOW TIPSY PIES HAPPENED, WAS JUST BY CHANCE, REALLY.

>> AND THAT'S HOW SHE COMES UP WITH THE RECIPES FOR HER DELICIOUS PIES.

THE ALCOHOL COMES FIRST.

THE FLAVORS ARE THEN BUILT AROUND IT.

>> SO SOME SAVORY PIE FIRST.

THIS IS A ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE HAM.

GERMAN SAUERKRAUT, RYE BREAD, SWISS CHEESE AND SOME CAYENNE PEPPER.

>> THE SPICY RUBEN CONTAINS GERMAN-STYLE BEER.

IT'S A LOT OF COMFORT FOOD IN ONE BITE.

OH, WOW.

>> DO YOU LIKE IT?

>> IT'S VERY GOOD.

AND I LOVE THE SAVORY.

>> AFTER YOU SWALLOW, YOU SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HEAT.

>> THERE'S A LITTLE HEAT AT THE END.

I LOVE IT.

>> THIS IS WHERE WE KEEP OUR HOT DOGS.

>> NEXT UP ON OUR STATE FAIR FOOD TOUR WAS TO VISIT GREGG KARNIS' PRONTO PUP STAND.

KARNIS, WHO HAILS FROM BECKER, MINNESOTA, GREW UP IN THE BUSINESS.

HIS PARENTS INTRODUCED PRONTO PUPS TO THE FAIR IN 1947.

>> IN 1946, THE STATE FAIR WAS CLOSED BECAUSE OF POLIO.

AND, SO, THEY CAME IN RIGHT AFTER THAT, YOU KNOW, RETTY MUCH ON THE SHIRT TAILS OF THE POLIO OUTBREAK.

NOW WE GOT THIS 2020 COVID PANDEMIC.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT CAN SAY THEY SURVIVED TWO PANDEMICS.

>> BUT NOT HAVING A FAIR THIS YEAR IS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE IT'S THE MAIN SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR HIS BUSINESS.

LAST YEAR, HE DID $2 MILLION IN SALES.

IN LIEU OF THE FAIR THIS YEAR, OFFICIALS ARE HOSTING A FOOD PARADE, LETTING PEOPLE DRIVE TO GET THE FOOD THEY MISS.

AND FOR THE UNINITIATED, JUST WHAT IS A PRONTO PUP?

>> WE ALL FALL UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF CORN DOGS.

OKAY.

NOW, WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL, TOO, IS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A NAME, WE HAVE A BRAND ATTACHED TO OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR HOT DOG ON A STICK.

AND THE BIGGEST THING IS THE FLOUR MIX.

MOST CORN DOGS ARE JUST SIMPLY SUGAR, CORN MEAL, WATER, AND THEY MAKE A BATTER OUT OF IT, WHERE WE HAVE FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT BLENDS OF FLOUR IN OURS.

>> THROUGH THE YEARS, KARNIS AND HIS FAMILY HAVE PERFECTED THEIR SYSTEM.

HERE, BROTHER WAYNE SHOWS US HOW THE SPEARING WORKS.

>> SO WE INSERT THE STICKS JUST ENOUGH TO WHERE YOU CAN FEEL THE HOT DOG.

>> THE BLOCKS CAN HOLD 50 HOT DOGS.

THEN THEY GO THROUGH A COMPRESSOR TO LOCK IN THE SPEARS AND THEN DIPPED IN BATTER AND PLUNGED INTO HOT OIL.

AND THEN I GOT A TASTE.

OKAY, HERE WE GO.

MMMM, NICE AND CRISPY, BUT ALSO FLUFFY INSIDE.

>> YES.

THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA.

REMEMBER, ALL PRONTO PUPS ARE CORN DOGS, BUT ALL CORN DOGS ARE NOT PRONTO PUPS.

♪♪ >> THE FOOD PARADE TICKETS AT $20 A VEHICLE SOLD OUT IN JUST A FEW HOURS.

ON OPENING DAY, IT SEEMED TO GO OFF WITHOUT A HITCH.

EVEN THE LONG TRAFFIC LINES DIDN'T DAMPEN PEOPLE'S MOODS.

HOW ARE YOU GUYS FEELING TODAY?

>> GOOD.

>> WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE FOOD.

>> ACROSS THE RIVER IN MINNEAPOLIS, ANOTHER STATE FOOD TRADITION LIVES ON.

THE MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION AND THE BIRCHWOOD CAFE HAVE OPENED A POP-UP AT THE OLD SPOON RIVER RESTAURANT.

THEY'RE SERVING LAST YEAR'S HITS THAT HAD STATE LEADERS SALIVATING.

AND HERE WE HAVE OUR TOMATO AND SWEET CORN BLT.

AND THE BACON IS FROM FISHER FARMS IN WASECA, MINNESOTA.

OF WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER FAIR FAVORITE, THIS IS OUR BLUEBERRY KEY LIME PIE.

>> THE COFFEE SHOP AT THE FAIR CONNECTED PEOPLE TO FARMS AND VICE VERSA.

AND THAT WILL BE MISSED THIS YEAR.

THE MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION COFFEE SHOP, IT'S SUCH A HUB.

AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NEXT TO THE DFL TENT.

SO YOU HAD, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE OTHER POLITICAL PEOPLE HANGING OUT THERE AND COMING OVER TO GET FOOD.

ALL THE FARMERS STOPPING BY.

YOU KNOW, FOR MANY FARMERS, IT'S LIKE THE ONE DAY OF THE YEAR THAT THEY'LL TAKE OFF TO COME TO THE FAIR.

>> DOZENS OF FARMERS SUPPLIED THE COFFEE SHOP EACH YEAR.

THE HOPE IS THAT THE POP-UP FARMERS SOME INCOME WHILE LETTING THE REST OF US TASTE THE GOODNESS.

OH.

>> GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER A YEAR AGO SPARKED CONVERSATION, DEBATE AND PROTESTS ABOUT RACE STATEWIDE.

ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME, A BLACK LIVES MATTER DEMONSTRATION DREW A COUNTERDEMONSTRATION ON THIS CORNER AND EVEN THE CONFEDERATE FLAG CAME OUT.

THESE NEXT FEW STORIES FOCUS ON RACE AND CHANGE ACROSS GREATER MINNESOTA.

AND WE START THEIR STORIES HERE.

FROM PINE ISLAND.

FARMER RANDY HOFFMAN OF WEST CONCORD AND HIS PASTOR, KAREN LARSON, HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT RACE LATELY.

>> WHAT I SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO GEORGE FLOYD, I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT.

IT WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAID, I'M GOING TO REMEMBER THIS GUY'S NAME BECAUSE I -- I FELT, THERE'S NO WAY THAT ANYONE CAN LOOK AT THIS AND SAY THAT THERE'S ANY JUSTIFICATION TO WHAT HAPPENED.

>> WHEN GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED, I THINK THERE WAS JUST A VERY STRONG REACTION HERE N MY COMMUNITY, IN THIS CHURCH,ER TO FIND OUT MORE.

>> THE PASTOR DECIDED TO OFFER A CLASS ON ANTI-RACISM.

>> I HAD, I THINK, 17 OR 18 PEOPLE OUT OF A WORSHIPING COMMUNITY OF MAYBE 40 WHO WANTED TO TAKE THAT CLASS.

AND IT WAS HARD WORK.

AND I THINK ALL OF US, INCLUDING ME, I'M CERTAINLY NO EXPERT ON THIS SUBJECT.

I WAS WITH THEM IN THIS JOURNEY, AND WE WERE JUST FINDING OUT WHAT THE REALITY OF THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY IS.

AND OUR FOUNDING ON THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY.

>> THEY LEARNED ABOUT REDLINING AND INEQUITY IN HOME LENDING, EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE, AND THE MISTRUST BETWEEN BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND THE POLICE.

>> REALLY, WHAT WE WERE INVESTIGATING WAS OUR OWN WHITE PRIVILEGE.

IT WASN'T JUST HOW HAS THIS HURT THOSE PEOPLE, BUT ALSO HOW HAS IT BENEFITED ME?

HOFFMAN SAYS ALMOST EVERYONE HE KNOWS IS WHITE, AND THE CLASS HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT.

>> IF YOU WERE GOING TO ASK ME IF I'M A RACIST, PROBABLY FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE SAID, NO, I'M NOT A RACIST.

BUT I REALIZE NOW THAT, YES, I AM A RACIST.

I DON'T LIKE IT.

AND I GUESS IT'S NATURAL TO NOTICE DIFFERENCES IN PEOPLE.

BUT I THINK RACISM IS WHEN YOU MAKE JUDGMENTS TOWARDS A PERSON OF DIFFERENT COLOR FOR NO REASON AT ALL, OTHER THAN THAT YOU SEE THAT THEY ARE OF A DIFFERENT RACE.

>> HIS CLASSMATES WERE ALL WHITE CHRISTIANS LIKE HIM.

IT WAS A SAFE SPACE TO LEARN ABOUT HIS OWN PREJUDICES.

>> WE AS WHITE PEOPLE, IF WE JUST DON'T CARE THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE HELD DOWN, IF WE JUST IGNORE IT BECAUSE IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE TO US AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT ME, THAT'S INDIFFERENCE.

>> SEVERAL MORE CLASSES WERE HELD BY AREA CHURCHES.

PASTOR KAREN SAYS SHE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE EDUCATION OFFERED COMMUNITYWIDE.

>> THERE IS AN UNSPOKEN CODE THAT KEEPS US FROM BRINGING UP ANYTHING CONTROVERSIAL.

I THINK IT TAKES REAL LEADERSHIP.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE KEY PEOPLE IN ANY COMMUNITY THAT CAN CHANGE THE TENOR SIGNIFICANTLY.

PASTORS IN TOWN CERTAINLY COULD.

THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOLS, IF THEY SPOKE OUT MORE CLEARLY ON THIS SUBJECT, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP.

CERTAINLY CITY LEADERS, THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS LEADERS, WE WANT TO BE KNOWN AS A TOWN THAT WELCOMES ALL.

AND IT'S NOT A SCARY PLACE FOR SOME PEOPLE TO BE.

>> LOCAL ACTIVISTS IN NEARBY PINE ISLAND ORGANIZED BLACK LIVES MATTER DEMONSTRATIONS THIS YEAR.

THEY DREW COUNTERDEMONSTRATIONS.

THE CONFEDERATE FLAG CAME OUT.

>> I THINK THERE IS A HISTORY OF LIKE WHITE NATIONALISM AND TOXIC PATRIOTISM.

I THINK IT'S VERY COMMON IN RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WHERE EITHER PEOPLE ARE COMPLACENT AND DON'T PROTEST AGAINST THEM, OR THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO POLITICALLY LIBERTARIAN WHO THINK THAT IT'S THE RIGHT OF WHITE NATIONALISTS TO SPEAK OUT.

ACTIVISTS TRIED TO GET THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT BLACK LIVES MATTER IN A STATEMENT.

>> THE COUNCIL WAS JUST KIND OF ABJECTLY REFUSING AND SAYING LIKE WE'RE NOT POLITICAL, WHICH I THINK IS A CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A LOCAL POLITICIAN.

>> THE CITY HAS NOT COOPERATED WITH "ALMANAC" ON THIS STORY.

COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE REACHED DECLINED COMMENT.

A REQUEST FOR A STATEMENT WAS NOT RESPONDED TO.

IS KOPP SAYS IT'S THIS ATTITUDE FROM CITY LEADERS THAT FRUSTRATES AND ANGERS HER.

>> I WANT TO SEE THINGS GET BETTER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE ME AND AREN'T LIKE ME.

AND I WANT TO SEE THIS BE A SAFE PLACE FOR BLACK FOLKS TO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES, FOR LGBT FAMILIES TO EXIST.

>> PINE ISLAND IS 97% WHITE.

NOT ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR SAY THEY'VE HAD PROBLEMS.

CHRISTOPHER CARTER IS BLACK AND HAS LIVED IN TOWN FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS WITH HIS WHITE FIANCEE.

HE HAS EXPERIENCED RACIST INCIDENTS BY POLICE BEFORE.

NOT HERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LIVED IN MINNEAPOLIS, I'VE BEEN STOPPED, YOU KNOW, FOR UNNECESSARY REASONS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF MAKES YOU FEEL A LITTLE LESS THAN A FULL CITIZEN WHEN YOU KNOW THE REASON WHY YOU WERE STOPPED.

AND IT WAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR ACTIONS.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH YOUR WHOLE LIVES KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BE STOPPED JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU LOOK.

I MEAN, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ABOUT PRIVILEGE THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF WHITES DON'T UNDERSTAND.

>> AND WHILE HE HASN'T EXPERIENCED AN OVERTLY RACIST INCIDENT IN PINE ISLAND, CARTER HAS NOTICED THE CONFEDERATE AND POLICE BLUE LINE FLAGS AROUND TOWN.

>> I'VE SEEN THE SIGNS, YOU KNOW, THE BLUE LIVES MATTER SIGNS SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, WE SUPPORT THE POLICE.

AND THEN I'M LIKE, WELL, OKAY, THAT'S FINE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, DO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE IS?

>> GEORGE FLOYD'S LIFE ENDED 200 MILES AWAY IN THE CITY STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS.

BUT FOR THIS GROUP IN BEMIDJI, IT FELT CLOSE TO HOME.

>> THIS WAS JUST SUCH A BLATANT DISPLAY OF AGGRESSION THAT, YOU KNOW, IT JUST REALLY SURPRISED ME.

AND I WOULD -- AND I DON'T THINK I WOULD EXPECT THAT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> ALLEN IS HELPING TO LEAD A LOCAL GROUP FOR RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>> I WAS REALLY CREATIVE.

>> ITS MEMBERS ARE DIVERSE.

ONE THING IN COMMON THAT THEY ALL HAVE ARE STORIES, WHETHER THEIR OWN OR SOMEONE THEY KNOW, WHERE RACE SEEMED TO BE A FACTOR IN HOW THEY WERE TREATED.

I THINK IT'S SOMETIMES VERY HARD TO UNRAVEL WHAT IS GOING ON, YOU KNOW?

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING TO GIVE PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

IT'S NOT ANYTHING SUPER OVERT.

IT'S NOT LIKE CROSS BURNINGS, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE REALLY OVERT, BLATANT THINGS THAT I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO HARD, IS THAT IT'S NOW KIND OF BELOW THE SURFACE.

>> THE GROUP WAS STARTED AFTER THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD.

CO-PRESIDENT JACOB WILEY KNOWS ALL TOO WELL HOW BIAS AND RACIAL INJUSTICE WORKS.

HE SAYS HE WAS ONCE STOPPED BY A STATE TROOPER AND FORCED TO DO BREATHALYZER AND SOBRIETY TESTS.

HE WAS EVEN JAILED DESPITE NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS.

>> I DID HAVE A BUSTED TAILLIGHT.

I FELT LIKE I WAS STOPPED FOR THAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST ASSUME BECAUSE I'M BLACK, I'M DOING DRUGS OR I SMOKE WEED OR I'M A DRUNK, BUT I'VE NEVER DID DRUGS A DAY IN MY LIFE.

>> SO THAT WAS A RACIST ACT.

>> YEAH.

I HONESTLY BELIEVE SO.

>> CHIEF BEMIDJI LED HIS PEOPLE THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES AND GREAT CHANGE.

ONE YEAR AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING, BLACK AND INDIGENOUS FOLKS HERE SAY THE CHANGE THEY'VE SEEN IS NOT ENOUGH.

AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING, NEWS REPORTS SHOWED HUNDREDS MARCHED TO THE BEMIDJI POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS FACED CRITICISM ON HOW IT HANDLED THE PROTESTS AFTER FLOYD'S DEATH.

"ALMANAC" TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO REACH BEMIDJI POLICE CHIEF MIKE MASTIN, BUT RECEIVED NO REPLY.

BUT THE STATISTICS SPEAK OF HISTORICAL POWER IMBALANCES.

OF THE CITY'S 15,000 RESIDENTS.

NEARLY 80% ARE WHITE, 11% INDIGENOUS, AND LESS THAN 3% BLACK.

THE INMATES AT THE COUNTY JAIL, HOWEVER, ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND THE COUNTY SHERIFFS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ELECTABLE INDIVIDUALS.

THEY MONITOR THE JAILS UP HERE.

WE DON'T HAVE POWER OVER THE JAILS.

>> SHE IS THE FIRST INDIGENOUS WOMAN ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND ONE OF TWO NATIVE AMERICANS VOTED IN LAST YEAR.

SHE SAYS BEMIDJI HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO THE WORK.

ONE OF HER GOALS IS TO HELP CREATE A POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

>> WE CAN'T HIRE AND FIRE ON THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE CAN CREATE POLICY CHANGE.

WE CAN EDUCATE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE CAN WORK AT CHANGING IN THE NARRATIVE.

I WOULDN'T SAY OUR BEMIDJI POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A FAILURE.

DO WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT OUR CHIEF OF POLICE NEEDS TO JUST MONITOR MORE?

YES.

>> THIS NATIVE AMERICAN MOTHER OF A BLACK BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT RECENTLY CALLED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD TO DO MORE TO FIGHT RACISM.

>> I PRAY THAT NO OTHER STUDENT HAS TO WALK INTO THAT SCHOOL AND BE CALLED THE N WORD OR ANOTHER DEROGATORY TERM.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SON NEVER HAPPENED TO ANOTHER STUDENT.

AND YOU ARE THE LEADERS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THAT COMES FROM YOU ALL THE WAY DOWN.

TAKE A STAND AND SAY NO RACISM, PLEASE.

>> DAVID FRISON IS BLACK AND A PROFESSOR AT BEMIDJI STATE.

HE AND HIS WIFE MOVED TO THE CITY FROM DETROIT FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> I LOVE MY JOB HERE BECAUSE I DEAL WITH -- I HAVE 175 STUDENTS EVERY SEMESTER.

MOST OF THEM ARE WHITE.

>> HE SAYS HE RELISHES BEING ABLE TO DEBUNK STEREOTYPES ABOUT BLACK MEN AS THEIR PROFESSOR.

BUT OFF CAMPUS, HE IS JUST BLACK.

>> AS A BLACK MAN, I CAN'T CHANGE FROM BEING BLACK, NO MATTER HOW MUCH EDUCATION I OBTAIN OR WHAT SOCIAL STATUS I GET, I'M STILL GOING TO BE VIEWED AS A BLACK MAN.

I STILL GO TO THE STORES HERE AND GET FOLLOWED AROUND THE STORES.

>> BUT EVEN THOUGH BEMIDJI HAS ITS PROBLEMS, HE BELIEVES THERE'S A CHANCE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THEM.

>> I'M A BELIEVER THAT YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT NO MATTER WHERE YOUR ENVIRONMENT MAY BE, WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT SOMEWHAT BETTER.

>> 17-YEAR-OLD RAHIMA JAMAC OF ST. PETER SPENT THE LAST YEAR LIKE MOST MINNESOTA TEENAGERS ON HER LAPTOP, ZOOMING INTO CLASSES, TRYING TO MAINTAIN SOME NORMALCY IN LIFE.

>> HAVE YOU DONE THE MATH HOMEWORK YET?

>> I'M GOING TO DO THAT TONIGHT.

SO, YEAH.

>> NOT ONLY DID THE PANDEMIC CHANGE EVERYTHING, SO DID THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD.

>> I DO THINK THERE'S BEEN LIKE A CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SCHOOL.

THERE'S A LOT MORE KNOWLEDGE AND A LOT MORE AWARENESS THAT'S SPREAD AROUND, LIKE THE TOPIC OF, YOU KNOW, LIKE SOCIAL JUSTICE OR RACISM.

AND I FEEL LIKE THERE'S BEEN AN ACTIVE -- LIKE OUR SCHOOLS ARE PUSHING LIKE EQUITY.

>> FOR THIS U.S. BORN SOMALI AMERICAN ST. PETER HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOME, EVEN IF OTHERS FELT SHE DIDN'T BELONG THERE.

>> WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, THERE WASN'T A LARGE SOMALI POPULATION.

>> THERE WAS ONLY A FEW OTHER KIDS IN, LIKE, MAYBE THE WHOLE SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, THERE WASN'T A LOT OF DIVERSITY AT ALL.

BUT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I DEFINITELY FELT LIKE A LITTLE ALIENATED, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE LIKE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT FOR SURE.

>> ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS RACISM EVEN BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING.

A FEW YEARS AGO, A SOMALI MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES FROM BEING PUSHED BY FELLOW STUDENTS.

IT PROMPTED THE DISTRICT TO ENACT A PROGRAM CALLED LIFE'S JOURNEY, WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF COULD REFLECT.

>> IT'S REALLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING YOUR OWN PERSPECTIVE AND YOUR OWN HISTORY AND HOW THAT AFFECTS HOW YOU SEE THE REST OF THE WORLD.

AND IN BETTER UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF YOU COME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OTHERS.

>> GRONSETH WASN'T SUPERINTENDENT THEN, BUT HE SAYS THE FACT THAT IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS A WAKEUP CALL.

>> IF WE DON'T HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, IT DOESN'T CREATE THAT ATMOSPHERE WHERE STUDENTS FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME.

>> HE SAYS EVERY DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY RURAL ONES, SHOULD BE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

STUDENTS OF COLOR NOW MAKE UP 30% OF THIS RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, FAR OUTPACING THE CITY ITSELF.

HERE IN ST. PETER, THERE ARE ABOUT 500 SOMALI AND OTHER EAST AFRICAN RESIDENTS, AND OVER THE PAST YEAR, SOME SAY THEY'VE SEEN A CHANGE.

MOHAMED ABDULKADIR IS A LOCAL SOMALI COMMUNITY LEADER.

HE SAYS HE AND HIS OWN DAUGHTERS GENERALLY HAVE HAD FEW PROBLEMS.

>> AND ALL OF THEM, THEY SAY THEY FEEL WELCOMED.

WHEN WE APPROACHED PEOPLE, THEY WELCOMED US.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THEIR HEARTS.

>> IN RECENT YEARS, THE CITY HAS INCLUDED SOMALIS IN THE ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY PARADE.

BUT OF THE CITY'S 103 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, ONLY TWO ARE PERCEIVED TO BE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND HE SAYS THERE ARE STILL MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO WON'T HIRE SOMALIS.

WHAT REPORT CARD WOULD YOU GIVE THE CITY OF ST. PETER?

>> I CAN GIVE THEM MAYBE "C." "C" PLUS.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE MIGHT FEEL BAD ABOUT THAT.

SOME PEOPLE, I WORK WITH THEM, WORK HARD, SO HARD EVERY DAY AND NIGHT, EVEN IF I HAVE A SMALL ISSUE, I CALL THEM AND I TALK TO THEM.

BUT IT'S HOW THEY FEEL.

>> THE EXPERIENCE IS THAT THEIR RACE IS A COMPONENT IN THE WAY THAT THEY'RE BEING TREATED.

>> YURIE HONG IS FOUNDER OF A LOCAL PROGRESSIVE POLITICS GROUP.

SHE SAYS AFTER THE VIDEO OF THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD WENT VIRAL, THE CALLS FOR CHANGE BROADENED.

>> WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT NOW IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT'S RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DIVERSITY.

>> HONG'S GROUP PARTNERED WITH THE MINNESOTA ACLU AND OTHERS TO LOOK AT WHETHER THERE IS RACIAL BIAS IN AREA POLICING.

THEY RECEIVED REPORTS OF BOTH UNDERPOLICING AND OVERPOLICING, ESPECIALLY FROM PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> THESE ARE TOWNS THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY NOTWITHSTANDING, IT'S -- THEY'VE BEEN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE.

RIGHT.

AND LAWS REFLECT THAT.

AND THERE'S A HESITATION TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF RACE.

>> THE GROUP ISSUED RECOMMENDATIONS IN A NEW REPORT THIS YEAR.

IT CALLED FOR ADDING PERCEIVED RACE IN POLICE STOPS AND A MORE INCLUSIVE AND TRANSPARENT CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

>> THE REACTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN LACKLUSTER TO THIS POINT.

THE REPORT WAS INTRODUCED.

SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE YET TO SEE THE CITY COUNCIL PICK THAT UP.

>> ST. PETER IS PLANNING TO HOLD COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ON RACE AND EQUITY LATER THIS YEAR.

MEANWHILE, SOME YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CREATING THEIR OWN CHANGE BEFORE THE VERDICT IN THE DERECK CHAUVIN TRIAL, STUDENTS AT ST. PETER HIGH SCHOOL STAGED A WALKOUT ON THEIR OWN.

>> NOT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL, MAYBE HALF.

THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAN I THOUGHT.

SO IT WAS VERY HEARTWARMING TO SEE THAT WHOLE GROUP OF STUDENTS OUT THERE, JUST LIKE SUPPORTING EVERYBODY AND EVEN THE TEACHERS STANDING OUT THERE.

YOU COULD SEE THAT THEY SUPPORTED US.

>> RUFFIN IS PART OF A NEW CLUB ABOUT RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I GUESS LIKE EVERYTHING, IT'S KIND OF LIKE DISCOURAGING.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE RESULT OF THE TRIAL.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE HOPEFUL IN A WAY.

>> RAHIMA JAMAC IS ALSO IN THE CLUB.

SHE HOPES IT TAKES OFF SCHOOLWIDE AND CREATES REAL CHANGE, EVEN THOUGH SHE KNOWS IT WILL BE AFTER SHE'S GONE.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF TALK AND A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AND A LOT OF LIKE, OKAY, WELL, THIS IS A PROBLEM.

THIS IS A POTENTIAL SOLUTION.

AND I WANT MORE LIKE, YOU KNOW, ACTION, LIKE, LET'S DO THIS.

>> I'M STANDING NEXT TO THE BEAUTIFUL MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

AND NOT FAR FROM HERE IS THE NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER.

I WENT THERE DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC TO FIND OUT WHY IT ATTRACTS THOUSANDS EACH YEAR.

THE BALD EAGLE HAS BEEN INSPIRING HUMANS FOR CENTURIES AS A SYMBOL OF STRENGTH.

NO LONGER AN ENDANGERED SPECIES, BALD EAGLES CAN BE SEEN THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA IN THE WINTER.

THESE SPECTACULAR RAPTORS CAN STILL BE SEEN IN MINNESOTA.

JUST HEAD SOUTH OF THE TWIN CITIES ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

WINTER IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE BALD EAGLES IN THIS PART OF NORTH AMERICA.

AND IT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH THE MIGRATION PATTERNS OF BALD EAGLES.

BALD EAGLES WILL MIGRATE OUT OF NECESSITY.

BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME INSTINCTUAL-TYPE BEHAVIOR THAT, AGAIN, WE WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH SONGBIRDS.

>> HE SAYS UNLIKE FINCHES AND SPARROWS THAT FLY SOUTH TO THE GULF STATES, THE EAGLES WILL STICK AROUND.

BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

>> WHAT WE SEE HERE IN THE WINTER IS THAT THEY ARE COMING VALLEY BECAUSE THEY ARE STILLR- ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD, PRIMARILY FISH, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF PLACES ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WHERE THE CURRENT IS STRONG ENOUGH THAT IT STAYS ICE FREE DURING THE WINTER.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF EAGLES IN NORTH AMERICA, THE BALD AND GOLDEN EAGLES.

AND WINTER IS A PRIME TIME TO WATCH THEM IN THE STATE BECAUSE THERE'S NO LEAVES ON THE TREES.

WE HAVE EAGLES, YOU KNOW, YEAR ROUND IN MINNESOTA.

BUT IF YOU WERE TO COME IN THE SUMMERTIME AND TRY TO DO EAGLE VIEWING, IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN THE TREES.

YOU JUST WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE THEM.

MORE FRUSTRATING THAN IF YOU COME IN THE WINTER TIME AND ALL THOSE TREES ARE BARE, WELL THEN SUDDENLY YOU CAN SEE THOSE NESTS VERY CLEARLY IN THE TREES.

YOU CAN SEE THE EAGLES PERCHING VERY CLEARLY IN TREES.

>> AND IT'S JUST THIS REASON THAT THE NATIONAL EAGLES CENTER WAS FOUNDED IN WABASHA.

IT'S WHERE BIRDERS WOULD GATHER TO WATCH BALD EAGLES, WHICH ARE WATER BIRDS.

IT'S ALSO ON THE LAND OF THE DAKOTA FOR WHOM THE EAGLE HAS DEEP MEANING.

>> EVERY VISITOR THAT COMES HERE COMES WITH THEIR OWN PERSONAL HISTORY.

AND WE HAVE A VERY STRONG CONNECTION WITH THE DAKOTA PEOPLE, THE NATIVE AMERICANS WHO CALLED WHAT IS TODAY WABASHA THEIR ANCESTRAL HOME.

AND NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE A STRONG PHYSICAL CONNECTION TO THIS LOCATION, BUT CERTAINLY THE BALD EAGLE PLAYS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THEIR SPIRITUAL LIFE AND THEIR BELIEFS.

>> SO THESE ARE THE STARS OF THE SHOW.

THESE ARE THE MAIN ATTRACTION HERE AT THE NATIONAL EAGLES CENTER.

OUR LIVE EAGLE AMBASSADORS, THE ONE OVER BY US RIGHT NOW IS OUR SMALL MALE FROM FLORIDA.

THAT'S WASHAKA.

IN THE CENTER, THAT IS ANGEL, AND SHE IS ORIGINALLY FROM NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

THEN OVER IN THE FAR CORNER, SHE'S COLUMBIA, FROM NORTHERN WISCONSIN, AND SHE IS NAMED IN HONOR OF THE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT'S REALLY KIND OF INTERESTING IS THAT THEY'RE SO LARGE.

I'VE NEVER BEEN THIS CLOSE TO AN EAGLE.

THEY ONLY LOOK HUGE BECAUSE OF THE THOUSANDS OF FEATHERS COVERING THEIR BODY.

THEIR BODY MASS ALONE MAY ONLY WEIGH AROUND SIX POUNDS.

THESE THREE EAGLES LIVE AT THE CENTER YEAR-ROUND.

WHY HAVE SOME IN CAPTIVITY?

DO YOU NEED TO DO THAT?

>> YEAH, SO IT'S A VERY COMMON QUESTION.

AND WHAT WE TELL OUR VISITORS IS THAT ANY BIRD THAT COMES HERE TO THE NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER IS GOING TO BE A PERMANENT RESIDENT.

WE ARE THEIR CARETAKERS BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE BIRDS HAVE SUFFERED SOME KIND OF A PERMANENT INJURY IN THE WILD.

>> HE SAYS EAGLES THAT CAN BE REHABILITATED ARE RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD WHEN THEY -- ARE HE ELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD.

>> WHEN THEY COME HERE, THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE BUILD WITH THE EAGLE AMBASSADORS IS ONE OF TRUST.

IT'S ONE OF PARTNERSHIP.

IT'S DEFINITELY VIEWED AS A COLLABORATION.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE THEIR CARETAKERS.

WE TAKE CARE OF THEM, AND THEN WE WORK WITH THEM AS PARTNERS, >> USUALLY SOLO BIRDS, UNLESS THEY'RE MATING THESE EAGLES AT THE CENTER, STARE INTENTLY OUT OF THE WINDOW.

>> THEY ARE WATCHING FOR OTHER BALD EAGLES.

THEY ARE VERY TERRITORIAL BIRD.

THEY HAVE ALL BEEN TOGETHER FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME.

THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THEY'RE FRIENDS, BUT THEY'RE USED TO EACH OTHER BEING IN NEAR PROXIMITY.

ANOTHER DRAW IS THE CURIOUS EXHIBIT OF EAGLE COLLECTOR PRESTON COOK.

>> NOW, PRESTON COOK, HE HAS BEEN COLLECTING ALL MANNER OF EAGLE MEMORABILIA AND ARTIFACTS AND HISTORICAL EPHEMERA FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS AND INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM FINE ART TO A GUITAR, AS YOU CAN SEE, POSTERS.

HE'S GOT ALL TYPES OF THINGS, WHETHER IT BE MILITARY, BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS, COMIC BOOKS.

I MEAN, ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT HAS ANY KIND OF CONNECTION OR INCLUSION OF EAGLES HE HAS COLLECTED.

>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC."

IF YOU'D LIKE TO REWATCH ANY OF THE STORIES YOU'VE SEEN HERE, GO TO TPTORIGINALS.ORG.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, WE'D LIKE TO BRING YOU SOME LAST SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM OUR RECENT TRIP UP NORTH.

Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting & Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY· GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES TO 28 CO-OPS IN MINNESOTA.

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: INVESTING $25 MILLION TO IMPROVE DENTAL CARE FOR MINNESOTANS IN NEED.

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THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION - ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA: THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

"ONE GREATER MINNESOTA" REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UPPER MIDWEST.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT COMES FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION, INSPIRING AND ENGAGING IN ACTION TO REALIZE STRONG, VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, AND FROM THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION.

>> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.