The battle to preserve wilderness is never over, as a recent documentary illustrates. Calling on the history of more than a century of threats to the Boundary Waters region, and the efforts to protect it, “This Wild Land” focuses on the life, work, and words of Sigurd F. Olson.
The beloved writer and wilderness advocate, who passed away in 1980, offers many lessons for people fighting for wild places.
This Wild Land includes an interview with Walter Mondale, who was vice president of the United States in 1978 when President Jimmy Carter signed the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act. The legislation finally gave the Boundary Waters nearly full wilderness protection.
“Sig was a saint, not just a good man, but saintly,” Mondale says. “And he knew all these areas up there, he knew what all was at stake, and he made a personal commitment to protect it, and he did. He was a kind, decent, generous, guy, but he was hard over in terms of protecting these areas.”
The 15-minute film was created by three childhood friends from Minnesota: director Brendan Harris and producers Will and John Mooty.
“The goal of the film is to reiterate the importance of human interaction with nature and preserving the places on earth that still allow for it,” say the producers. “Threats to the Boundary Waters have taken many forms over time, but the dedication to keeping them safe has endured.”
It also includes interviews with wilderness outfitter Steve Piragis, executive director of the Listening Point Foundation Steffi O’Brien, Sovatha Oum, who brings young, diverse groups to the wilderness, and others.
The documentary features archival footage and audio of Olson. He is seen in his writing shack and in the woods, and speaking about the value of wilderness and the endless work to keep it wild. “I think it’s important to preserve the beauty and the ancient rhythms and develop a living place where we and our children can be happy,” he is heard saying. “I hope that we will have an America not only that we’re proud of but the whole world can look to and say ‘look what this culture has done.’” The film closes with Sig’s emphatic message for the generations to come. He says young people sometimes ask him what makes him hopeful. Standing next to a red pine sapling and a giant, ancient tree of the same species, he tells the viewer how he responds.
“My hope for the world is you. This sapling epitomizes you, the hope of the world. You have your task to do, you have got to carry on the battle to preserve such beautiful places as this. The battle goes on endlessly.”
– Sigurd F. Olson
Why make this documentary? Director Brendan Harris says “Today, more than ever, we must realize what is at stake if we fail to protect these wild lands. We each carry our own ability to protect this place, just as Sig did, and with enough understanding and enthusiasm to share it, the generations we leave this wilderness for will not hesitate in picking up right where we left off.”
Photos from the film production, courtesy Brendan Harris. 
Photos from the film production, courtesy Brendan Harris.
The film was produced in association with Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness, Save the Boundary Waters, The Listening Point Foundation, Friends of the Boundary Waters, Chesterfield Pictures, and Capture Films.