Presented by the Chequamegon Bay community and the Wisconsin Humanities Council.

In the Chequamegon Bay region, the Making It Home festival is presented by the Chequamegon Bay community, which includes the Bay Area Film Society and a large number of local partners. Celebrating Earth Day 2010 in the Northwoods, festival film screenings and events will be at the Ashland's Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center throughout the weekend of April 22-24, 2010.

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:

The Making it Home festival kicks off on Earth Day, April 22! See more...

LOCATION: Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center / 29270 Co Highway G / Ashland, WI 54806-9339

CONTACT:

Ruth Oppedahl, Making it Home program coordinator, at 715 / 685 2676.

Why here? Why now?

Come on up and we'll show you! Chequamegon Bay is Wisconsin's gateway to Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands. This site in western Lake Superior has a history of people being attracted to the region for its resources beginning thousands of years ago with the copper culture; the migration of the Chippewa to the wild rice beds of Kakagon Sloughs; the exploration and settlement by French fur traders; the exploitation of timber and fish resources; and now an attractive tourist destination with the first eco-municipalities in the country. Many of us who live here came for the natural beauty and feel a strong connection to the Lake and the depth of the historical imprint that defines our home.

The Making it Home film festival provides an opportunity for us to promote dialog and discussion about the many issues our regions faces, including our conservation legacy, local food production, and protection of the special aspects that make this place unique. Questions like how do we build community, how do we make ethical decisions, what matters to us, what is our place/role in the world, how do we connect to the natural world, how important is the agricultural life and why, are topics that can be broached by experiencing stories together, whether in person, by book or by films. We in the Chequamegon Bay area are excited to use films as a catalyst for these community discussions.

Read more from Ruth Oppedahl, project director for Making it Home in the Chequamegon Bay.

 

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
More details coming later!

Thursday, April 22:

Join us for Earth Day and see the premier of a new film about native Wisconsinite, Aldo Leopold! The hour-long film GreenFire provocatively examines Leopold's thinking, renewing his idea of a land ethic for a population facing 21st century ecological challenges. Producer/Directors Steven Dunsky and David Steinke will be present to discuss the vision and production of the film. Location and time TBA.

Friday, April 23:

Films about Food! Local schools and senior centers will be the sites for screening films exploring the different dimension of food: Where does our food come from? How can we best preserve and transport food? Who grows food in the Chequmegon Bay area? Locally grown refreshments and conversation about the wonderful local food available in Northern Wisconsin will accompany the films. Location and time TBA.

Saturday, April 24:

Home A film exploration about why we live here and our connections to the land and each other. Location and time TBA.

This Making it Home film festival is presented by Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Friends of the Center Alliance, Bay Area Film Society, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, United States Forest Service, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Wisconsin State Historical Society, Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce, Bayfield County Tourism and Recreation, Chequamegon Audubon, and the Chequamegon Bay Birders.