Ernest Oberholtzer was an early 20th century environmental advocate and explorer known for his efforts to protect the Quetico-Superior region on the Minnesota-Ontario border. In the early 1900s, he canoed over 3,000 miles in the region and nearly froze to death on a 2,000 mile canoe trip along Hudson Bay in 1912. Later in life, Oberholtzer fought successfully to establish some of the first protected wilderness areas in North America, including helping pass the Shipstead Nolan Act in 1930 and supporting the creation of Voyageurs National Park in 1972. He spent 50 years living simply on an island he owned in the border lakes region, advocating for balance between