Last December, the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon announced that NewRange Copper Nickel would be a major sponsor for the 2026 race. The announcement immediately faced intense criticism from environmental groups and several Tribal Nations. On January 8, NewRange announced that it had pulled out of the sponsorship after the Beargrease organization decided to end the partnership in response to the community outcry.
NewRange is the joint venture between Glencore and Teck Resources that is developing the NorthMet mine near Hoyt Lakes. The mine in question is the NorthMet project (formerly known as PolyMet), located near Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt. It would be Minnesota’s first copper-nickel mine. Glencore and Teck Resources are two of the world’s largest natural resource companies.
Its Beargrease sponsorship represented that the joint venture understood the “balance between preserving wilderness and strengthening the regional economy.”
Glencore, headquartered in Switzerland, is a global “superpower” in the commodities sector.
Teck Resources is Canada’s largest diversified mining company. Over the last two years, Teck has undergone a massive transformation, shifting its focus away from “dirty” coal toward “green transition” metals like copper and zinc. While they were historically competitors, they are now closely linked through a massive $8.9 billion deal completed in July 2024, in which Glencore acquired the majority of Teck’s coal business.
There are ongoing reports that Rio Tinto, the world’s second-largest mining company, is in talks to acquire Glencore. If this deal goes through, it would create the largest mining company in history, valued at over $200 billion, leading to a massive consolidation of copper and nickel assets globally—including the potential projects in Northern Minnesota.
The annual long-distance dog sled race honors John Beargrease, an Ojibwe mail carrier. Beargrease delivered mail by dog sled and boat along Minnesota’s North Shore from 1879 until 1899. He made his final delivery in April 1899. He and his brothers covered the treacherous route between Two Harbors and Grand Portage.
Opposition from local politicians and former business owners along the trail highlighted community concerns, calling it “propaganda” and a “slap in the face” to the Indigenous heritage of the race. Many pointed out that the race finishes on the Grand Portage reservation, and Tribal leaders from the Grand Portage and Fond du Lac Bands have long opposed copper-nickel mining due to potential risks to water quality and wild rice.
By January 8, the pressure became insurmountable. NewRange and the Beargrease organization mutually agreed to terminate the partnership. NewRange released a statement via their head of external affairs, Colin Marsh, stating that they respect the [Beargrease] organization’s decision and remain committed to supporting the region in other ways.
The 2026 Beargrease begins on Sunday, January 25, 2026. Other long-standing sponsors, including Bent Paddle Brewing, Trestle Inn, Lang Feeds, and Qrill Pet Arctic World Series, remain in place.
