LSProject: John Linklater – Superior National Forest woodsman and game warden

Northern Minnesota has had its share of skilled woodsmen and canoeists, including John Linklater. Linklater was of Anishinaabeg, Cree and Scottish ancestry and was a mentor to several important Minnesota conservationists, including Sigurd Olson.

Linklater and his wife, Tchi-Ki-Wis, owned a fishery on Isle Royale during the late 1920s. He also worked as a Superior National Forest game warden until his death in 1933 on Basswood Lake near Ely, Minnesota.

Producer Martha Marnocha learns more about this iconic northwoods figure from former national park service employee, Tim Cochrane, who is writing a book about Linklater.

Lake Superior Project is supported in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Martha Marnocha