The Watershed

50 | What Will You Do for the Water? (Chisago County, MN)

The Watershed

Show Notes

The Watershed is a podcast of We Are Water MN. In this episode, we hear from Sharon Day, a writer, artist, activist, educator, and leader of water protection efforts including Nibi Walks. She is also an enrolled member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.

Sharon Day explores some of her water memories, as well as themes around caring for and being in relationship with water. We'll also probe questions about our responsibility to past and future generations. What will you do for the water?

The We Are Water MN exhibit will be hosted in Chisago County from June 20 through August 12, 2024. The main exhibit will be at the North Branch Area Library, while additional indoor exhibits will be on view at the Chisago County History Center. Lindstrom Memorial Park will have an outdoor display. After Chisago County, the exhibit will move to Cass Lake (Leech Lake Tribal College), and Shakopee (Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community).

You can learn more about We Are Water MN at www.mnhum.org/water. Learn more about Chisago County’s hosting of the exhibit, plus related events, at https://www.chisagocountymn.gov/1349/We-Are-Water-MN-Exhibit---June-20-to-Aug.

This episode of The Watershed was produced by Angela Hugunin, and by We Are Water MN, which is led by the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; the Minnesota Historical Society; the Board of Water and Soil Resources; the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; and University of Minnesota Extension.

We are Water MN is funded in part with money from the Clean Water, Land, & Legacy Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008 and by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Special thanks to Emma Needham, who conducted this interview, which was initially featured in Hartley Nature Center’s hosting. Thank you to Sharon Day, our interviewee for this episode. You can learn more about Nibi Walks at http://www.nibiwalk.org/.

You can find We Are Water MN on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wearewatermn/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wearewatermn/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/wearewatermn). Follow along for the latest updates!

Music credits: These Times, Drone Pine, McCarthy, So We Go, and Waterbourne by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).

More from The Watershed

Aug 3, 2026

This special episode of The Watershed Podcast celebrates 100 years of water quality testing on the Mississippi River and the communities who have fought to bring the river back to life.

Jul 10, 2026

At the headwaters of the Mississippi, six storytellers share how Northern Minnesota’s waters have shaped their lives, their identities, and their sense of place.

May 5, 2026

In this episode of The Watershed Podcast, we explore six powerful stories from community members living in the Capitol Region Watershed District in St. Paul.

Mar 6, 2026

Thanks for listening to The Watershed, a podcast from We Are Water MN. In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Holger, a woman who lives in the Zumbro River watershed and who has dedicated her career to getting kids connected to the outside world. Sarah dives into her past and shares about a magical swamp that has helped shape who she is today.

Feb 2, 2026

Thanks for listening to The Watershed, a podcast from We Are Water MN.

See all episodes →