Sigurd Olson Lecture Series: A Political History of Two Landscapes

The 2010 Sigurd Olson Lecture Series will feature long-time wilderness advocate and attorney Brian O’Neill discussing Yellowstone National Park and The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the history and evolution of wilderness law.

The creation of Yellowstone as a park and the reservation from settlement of lands and water that now form the Boundary Waters began the American experiment in the preservation of wild places and wild animals. Both landscapes have been surrounded by controversy since their inception. Today Yellowstone and the BWCA face further challenges, some of which will alter their very natures. Many of these challenges will also affect generally the continued vitality of our national park and wilderness systems.

Brian O’Neill has been involved in the Boundary Waters and Yellowstone fights for more than 30 years. He has litigated over 50 cases on behalf of the environmental community ranging from the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone, to the constitutionality of the Boundary Waters Wilderness Act. He has handled cases dealing with wolves, bears, eagles, and fish. In 1994, Brian was the chief trial lawyer for fisherman and natives in the civil trial resulting from the Exxon Valdez disaster. He has argued in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Dates and locations:

April 19, 5-6:30 p.m.
Room 331, William Mitchell College of Law
St. Paul, MN

April 20 – 12:15 p.m.
U of Minn. Law School
Room 50, Walter Mondale Hall
Minneapolis, MN

April 21 – 7 p.m.
Vermilion Community College Theater
Ely, MN