Program needed after recent cliff jumping drowning
(Grand Portage, Minnesota) — The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa announces a partnership with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for the creation of a new marine search and rescue program. This program will reduce the risk of loss and death in the region’s tourist-heavy waters including Grand Portage, Grand Marais, Tofte, and Schroeder on Lake Superior’s North Shore.
“This first-in-the-nation partnership between a Tribal Band and County will provide needed coast guard services to the North Shore region. We hope these services will save lives, as just a few weeks ago two teenagers died after cliff jumping into Lake Superior,” said Grand Portage Band Tribal Chair and former Cook County Commissioner Bobby Deschampe.
The Grand Portage Band secured funding for two search and rescue boats, staffing, and training through a bill signed into law during the 2023 Minnesota Legislative Session. The legislation was chief authored by Senator Grant Hauschild of Hermantown and Representative Heather Keeler of Moorhead. It is expected to be fully operational in the next month.
The need for search and rescue operations occurred after the Auxiliary U.S. Coast Guard Station in Grand Marais ceased operations in 2022. Since then, on-water first responder responsibilities have been left to the Band and the Sheriff on an ad hoc basis. However, neither the Band nor County was properly equipped or staffed for on-water rescue and recovery operations, which require specialized equipment and training.
In the last year, the Grand Portage Band has responded to numerous calls to rescue visitors to the area who were underprepared for or had underestimated Lake Superior’s open waters. The Band has been performing search and rescues that typically would have been carried out by the Coast Guard using existing Band equipment and resources.
The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is commonly known as the Grand Portage Anishinaabe, or Ojibwe. The village of Grand Portage is located near the Canadian border along the northern shore of Gichigami (Lake Superior).
