An Inner Outer Mississippi River -Wakpa Tanka- Walking Experience

Walk Details: 

The walk will begin at Minnehaha Park and Falls (Mni gaga- an important Dakota gathering place) at 9 am, (in front of Sea Salt entrance) wind through Minneapolis neighborhoods, along West River Road, (overlooking the Great River) and down river trails to St. Anthony Falls (Owamni yomni) near the Stone Arch Bridge. The walk will loop back to the park along the river returning at approximately 4 pm. Our walking experience will include brief stops for mindful rest, water/snack breaks and a lunch break. There are options to purchase food and drink along the way; however, please bring plenty of water and snacks. Please be aware of your endurance level as we will be walking for about 5 hours at a conversational pace. We will move along but no one will be left behind! 

Bring:

Water, snacks, comfortable shoes/socks, sunscreen, hats and/or rain gear encouraged as walk will take place rain or shine. Please also prepare for walking in snowy conditions (unless it is a blizzard or we are experienc heavy winds). 

RSVP: 

There is no fee for this event, but please be mindful that there is a cap on the number of people for this event. There is a waitlist, so be sure to update your availability as things change. We also highly encourage that you pick-up a copy of Jonathon's book at Magers & Quinn (here on Friday night, April 21!) or anywhere books are sold. The audiobook is also a great choice!

Your Co-Hosts:

Elle Lesley Elle Lesley (she,her) discovered her passion for long walks and nature photography on the Camino de Santiago in 2016 after her retirement from 30+ years in the field of social work; since then she found herself exploring the trails of Wapka Tanka, the Great River Mississippi, on foot, as it moves through her hometown of Minneapolis, MN. Moving this way has inspired her to slow down, connect to herself, nature and appreciate life's miracles, one step at a time.

Jonathon Stalls (he, his) spent 242 days walking across the United States in 2010 and has continued to walk alongside thousands of people for thousands of miles. He describes himself as a Walking Artist. He advocates and organizes for racial, economic, and social justice, identifies as LGBTQIA2S+ (queer/gay), is currently the creator of Intrinsic Paths and the Pedestrian Dignity campaign, and is the founder of Walk2Connect. Jonathon finished his studies at the Living School for Action and Contemplation in 2017. He has committed much of his life to helping people deepen their relationships to one another, to the natural world, and to themselves at an unhurried pace. His first book, WALK - Slow Down, Wake Up, & Connect at 1-3 Mile per Hour with North Atlantic Books was released on August 16, 2022.