Share Your Voice — the Talon Mine

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting public comments on the proposed Tamarack Mine. This is your opportunity to tell decision-makers what matters to you before decisions are made

Your comments are really important at this stage. Show elected officials that we are watching & we care about this.

Deadline:

Monday, September 14, 4:30pm

Where:

Submit your written comments online or by mail

"Talon Metals/Rio Tinto plans to mine a 'massive sulphide mineralization' with high levels of sulfide and toxic metals. Drilling in the huge 31,000 acre area where Talon controls private land and state leases (about 85% of the size of Minneapolis) controlled by Talon Metals in central Minnesota's Aitkin County, Talon has already found sulfide ore both in the Sandy River and Tamarack River watershed, which flow through the Big Sandy Lake Flowage to the Mississippi River and along the West Branch Kettle River, which flows downstream to the St. Croix River."

Waking the Giant —
Northwoods Solidarity Revival

Save the Date!

Join us

When:

October 4, All day

Where:

Near Hibbing — More soon

Across our region and around the world, rural and working-class communities are rising together to meet this moment, with creativity and deep love for our places and our neighbors.

Our northwoods region has always been a place of rooted resistance and spirited revival.

From Anishinaabe communities defending their inherent rights while practicing love for land and water, to immigrant communities sparking labor movements as they struggle for self-determination, safety, and belonging. We are no strangers here to the collective work of building movements and caring for community.

This gathering will be a revival of solidarity and spirit! We’ll look back at some of the movements that have shaped our region, and we’ll turn to the future, sharing stories and strategies across geography and experience.

This will be a gathering you don’t want to miss....
Stay tuned for the details!

Register to attend & we will send you the location closer to the event.

Trina Swanson — Let's Fix It Tour

Comes to Biwabik

When:

October 14, 5:30–7:30pm

Where:

Biwabik Pavilon

What's not working in Biwabik and the surrounding communities? Healthcare that costs too much? Jobs that don't pay enough? Housing that's getting harder to find? Every community has its own challenges, and the people who live there know better than anyone where we need to start.

That's why Trina Swanson is bringing the LET'S FIX IT! Tour to Biwabik.

This isn't a rally or a long political speech. It's a chance to sit down, talk with Trina, and tell her what's working, what isn't, and what you want your representative in Congress to understand about life in your community.

Democrat, Republican, Independent or somewhere in between, you're welcome. Trina believes a representative works for everyone, whether you voted for them or not. Her campaign describes the tour's broader approach as focused on listening to people across Minnesota's 8th District and on issues including affordability, healthcare, jobs, and community stability.

Bring a friend. Bring your questions. Bring your ideas about what you think needs fixing.

Trina's complete tour:

• September 16 — Brainerd
• September 22 — Cambridge
• October 5 — Bemidji
• October 7 — Grand Rapids
• October 14 — Biwabik
• October 20 — Washington County

Northwoods Sharing Circle

Free Community Meal & Gathering

When:

October 25, 1:00–3:00pm

Where:

Cook Community Center
Cook, MN

Who:

Everyone — families welcome!

What:

Free taco bar & sharing circle

We have some exciting news! The Cook Area Neighbors Network (CANN) will be hosting the Northwoods Sharing Circle, a free community gathering on Sunday, October 25, with a taco bar lunch for everyone in the greater Cook area. Whether you've lived here for decades or recently moved to the area, whatever your background, you're welcome at the table.

Registration is requested but not required. Attendees are asked to email cookareaneighborsnetwork@gmail.com to ensure we have enough food for everyone.

Come for the food, stay for the conversation — we'll be sharing stories about what we love about our community, and starting to map out ways neighbors can support one another, from lending a hand to sharing what we grow and make. No agenda, no pressure — just good food and good company.

No Kings National Day of Action —
Vote Early

No Kings started with sending a message. Now it's about showing what that power can do.

When:

October 17

Where:

At the ballot box

This time, the mobilization moves to the ballot box.

In Minnesota, absentee ballots are already available, and the state’s new in-person Early Voting period begins 18 days before Election Day. (sos.mn.gov⁠)

SHOW THE POWER.
ORGANIZE THE POWER.
EXERCISE THE POWER.

Three times in less than a year, millions of Americans took to the streets to say something unmistakable: we are here, we are paying attention, and we will not be silent.

Minnesota became one of the clearest examples of that power on display. We filled the streets in St. Paul. We turned out again across the state. And in March, Minnesota became the national flagship for No Kings.

That was showing power.

Then Minnesota faced a different test.

When Operation Metro Surge brought thousands of federal officers into the Twin Cities, the response moved beyond the streets. Neighbors shared information. Lawyers provided know-your-rights education. Churches, community organizations and others helped people navigate an extraordinary situation. And people who had never worked together before began building networks that could act together.

That was organizing power.

And that distinction matters.

A demonstration can show how many people are willing to act. An organized network can turn that willingness into sustained civic action.

That is the next step for No Kings.

Not away from protest. Not instead of organizing. From showing power to exercising it.

Because elections are one of the places where organized people actually exercise political power. The people elected in November will make decisions about legislation, budgets, oversight and the direction of government.

And No Kings is now explicitly making that connection. The national coalition describes October 17 as a nonpartisan day of voter participation and calls No Kings: Vote Early “the next step” after a year of mass mobilization.

A Note from Aaron Kania

"Are you new to the community? Does your town vote by mail, but you’d prefer to drop off your ballot in person? You have options!

"Absentee voting starts September 18th. Find your ballot drop-off location, register to vote, and make a plan to vote today!"

Election Protection Train the Trainers Workshop

from MN Voice

When:

September 20, 2:00–3:30pm

Where:

Online

Community Vigil

Oppose ICE Detention

When:

October 11, 2:00pm

Where:

Civic Center Grounds
Appleton, MN

Free Community Potluck Meal

2nd & 4th Sundays in Hibbing

When:

2nd & 4th Sundays, 12:30–2:30pm

Where:

117 E Howard Street
Hibbing, MN

Bring a dish or just come & enjoy. Open to the public, all are welcome. To-Go Available

Neighbor2Neighbor — Get out the Vote

from Indivisible

This election is all about winning affordability for working people and accountability for a corrupt regime. To win, we need to look beyond partisan politics and reach our communities – which is exactly what Indivisibles have been doing for years.

Our Neighbor2Neighbor program is our tool for having impactful conversations with voters near you. Instead of getting dozens of doors in someone else’s community, Neighbor2Neighbor provides you with 10 neighbors who need to be turned out to vote this year. You’ll get a short list of addresses, a simple script, some best practices, and a printable handout – it’s that easy! There’s no app to download, and you can have these conversations on your own time. Sign up to receive the next ten closest doors when you’re done!

In MN, we are getting Neighbor2Neighbor for the whole state.

National support for Trina Swanson

MN08 is a House Target for the National Organization. What do they get?

• N2N script will have additional information supporting Trina Swanson
• National Phone Bank into MN08, open to all of us to join

Democracy Observer Trainings

from MN Voice

When:

Every Tuesday & Sunday, 6:00–8:00pm

Where:

Online

Why take a Democracy Observer training? You will gain:

• Key knowledge about MN elections law and voter protections
• Skills to identify, assess, and report unconstitutional activity related to elections (ex. Voter Intimidation)
• A framework for practicing community care in support of safe elections in your precinct

Hands Off Our Vote Trainings

from Indivisible

Calling all Indivisibles who are ready to demand Hands Off Our Vote! This is the first of two trainings on 2026 election protection: the actions you and those around you can take to ensure every eligible voter can vote, every vote is counted, and the results are honored and the winners seated. This training includes a step-by-step of basic election protection steps that you can scale to how much time and energy you have, as well as a messaging special with Anat Shenker-Osorio and assorted FAQ.

Storytime

Since 1994, when i first began harvesting wild rice with my friend Judith N., a group of us gets together around great company, a potluck of good food, singing, and a campfire at this time of year. People come and go from the group due to age, shifting priorities, geographic moves, and sometimes death; the venue for our gatherings has also changed from time to time. Yet, there is a core group of us, many of who live in the Cities, that always makes sure to share time together, to catch up on personal stories, and rice camp lore. All are accomplished women in their fields of interest and the conversations are always lively. This year was no different.

As a dyed-in-the-wool introvert, as the group keeps growing, i spend more time listening. This year, what became clear to me is that 'The Movement' is alive and well and moving. Everyone is involved in some way with mutual aid, taking a stand against this regime, advocacy for immigrants and others who are under attack, demonstrating at court hearings for protesters. signing-and-waving, acting as rapid responders/constitutional observers, writing postcards, public comments regarding various issues, and submitting letters to the editor of their local papers, operating Signal groups, and organizing in their neighborhoods and communities. They got trained and went on to train others and provided guidance to new members of the opposition. Some of their stories were horrific...the things they witnessed, the things they had to do to stay safe and protect the safety of others in critical situations, and what they did to throw sand in the gears of ICE. Yet, they persevered and kept up the work; they dug deep inside themselves, relying on the strengths of others, as well as their own, to keep moving forward. What an amazing group of women, my friends, and allies are!

As the moon rose over the Vermilion River, we gathered around the fire laughing, telling stories, singing songs, and making S'Mores knowing that this may be the last time we are all together in the exact same way...cherishing each others company, learning from each other, and lifting each others' spirits. Same time next year.

Mi'iw
— jester

Teacher

North Star Lane — Episode #4

with host Michael Goldberg

With school back in session, North Star Lane features two stories in honor of high school teachers. Writer Teresa Alto uses the Shel Silverstein classic, "The Giving Tree", as a way to think about her most influential teacher. And storyteller Terry O'Brien, in a live performance, describes the fallout from her brief stint as a high school English teacher.

New Indivisible Battleground Polling

Voters Are Connecting the Affordability Crisis to Unbridled Corruption – And Connecting Trump to Both

"As the economy sputters and costs soar, the rich are getting richer and the world has its first trillionaire.

"The president of the United States is making billions off crypto, building a gold-plated ballroom, giving millions to his friends for botched monument renovations, and saying things like 'I don't think about Americans' financial situation, I don't think about anybody.'

"Republicans in Congress have spent the past two years ripping healthcare away from Americans, and cutting taxes for the ultra-wealthy while doing nothing to rein in the corruption of the regime or its price-gouging corporate enablers and benefactors.

"It's a masterclass in bad politics. And if you're asking – as many of us who've grown a guarded, hard-shelled skepticism after the past ten years of US politics are wont to do – 'is any of this breaking through?' The answer is YES."