North House Folk School

Overview

Spring is an explosion of life in the North! Discovering the birds, wildflowers, insects and more of this dynamic and rich northern landscape is the focus of this festival. Participation in the festival is open to anyone interested in hands-on learning and curious about the dynamics of the northern landscape. 

Course Offerings

Wildfire: The Culture, Science and Future of Fire with Ferin Davis Anderson

7pm | Saturday, May 31 | Blue Building

As the North Shore climate changes, an understanding of the boreal forest we call home and wildfire has never felt like a hotter issue. We are pleased to welcome environmental scientist and resource manager Ferin Davis Anderson to discuss her book Wildfire: The Culture, Science, and Future of Fire, exploring the long relationship Indigenous people have had with fire, the ecological importance of burns and a reflection on fire’s regenerative and important benefits and destructive capabilities alike.

Ferin is an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa/Ojibwe/Anishinaabe/Mitchifs in North Dakota. Ferin is responsible for stewarding and restoring natural areas for the Shakopee Mdewakaton Sioux Community’s Natural Resources Department. She works to weave Indigenous knowledge and western science to practice holistic land stewardship. This includes using fire as an ecological and cultural tool to achieve beneficial and healing outcomes. Witnessing Indigenous people revitalize and reconnect with this practice has been one of the greatest gifts of her career. Ferin was also part of a team that helped bring bison back to the SMSC – a relative that will help the Community connect with the land and their culture.