CITIZENS' COUNCIL ON VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK:

The Citizens' Committee on Voyageurs National Park [CCVNP] was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 1975 [Laws 1975 c235 secl] with an expiration date of June 30, 1983. Its stated mission was to conduct meetings and research into all matters related to the establishment and operation of Voyageurs National Park [VNP], and to make recommendations to the United States National Park Service [NPS] and other concerned federal and state agencies regarding operation of the park.

The committee consisted of 16 members, 12 appointed by the Governor and four by the Legislature. The Governor appointed four people each from Koochiching and St. Louis counties and four at-large members from elsewhere in the state. The Legislature appointed two representatives selected by the Speaker of the House and two senators selected by the Senate Committee on Committees. In addition, the Governor designated one of the appointees to serve as chair and the committee elected other officers as necessary. Members were also appointed so as to represent the differing viewpoints and interest groups from the facilities included in and around the park.

Funding was extended for the CCVNP in 1983 [Laws 1983 c260 sec2l] and the name was changed to the Citizens' Council on Voyageurs National Park. The Governor was also given a thirteenth appointment, a fifth at-large member.

Through the years the CCVNP studied many issues affecting the park including proper water levels for Rainy and Namakan lakes, hunting and fishing regulations, access roads, and restoration of the Kettle Falls Hotel. The CCVNP became more controversial as the years passed, however, mainly due to one issue, that of whether to allow a snowmobile trail across the Kabetogama Peninsula, in the center of the park, or to declare the peninsula "wilderness" and off-limits to motorized vehicles. The CCVNP felt that restrictions on motorized vehicles in the park would limit use of the park and retard economic activity in the region.. Other groups and individuals, from around the region and throughout the country, believed that motorized use should be restricted, with the NPS implementing a wilderness plan for the park. The latter groups had actually established the Voyageurs Region National Park Association [VRNPA] in 1965, ten years prior to establishment of the park and the CCVNP. The NPS, caught in the middle between the multiple-use advocates and the environmentalists, eventually offered two plans, one that would create zones for snowmobiles and one for wilderness areas inside the park. Neither plan was acceptable to both parties, however, and the controversy continued to rage.

In late 1991, the state Commission on Reform and Efficiency [CORE] recommended that state funding for the CCVNP be eliminated, feeling it inappropriate for the state to fund one interest group and not another [namely the VRNPA, a privately funded non-profit organization]. Some CORE members felt the CCVNP had strayed from its original mission of marketing and promoting the park to one of actively working against park policies in favor of local recreational interests. Despite CORE's recommendation, CCVNP's funding was extended. Hearings and mediation were attempted in the mid-1990s, with no resolution. In 1999, Governor Jesse Ventura vetoed state funding for the CCVNP for fiscal years 2000 and 2001. Rather than try to continue as a non-profit organization, the CCVNP chose to disband and ceased operations on June 30, 1999. It continued, however, as a legal entity since its authorizing legislation was not repealed until March 26, 2002 [Laws 2002 c298 sec8; effective July 1, 2003].

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The records consist of minutes and agenda packets (1975-1999), many, particularly between 1987 and 1992, with verbatim transcripts; incoming and outgoing letters (1975-1999) detailing all aspects of the work of the CCVNP, particularly its relationships with state and federal representatives and senators, and with various organizations and private individuals involved with the park; subject files (1964-1999); printed reports and publications (1966-2000); and clippings (1975-1999).

The subject files include correspondence, financial and legal documents, photographs, reports, legislation, press releases, appointment certificates and member lists, and related materials documenting all aspects of the CCVNP’s activities and duties. Of particular interest are series of the CCVNP’s resolutions (1975-1999), trip files (1985-1997), VNP background files (1977-1999), Executive Director/consultant Don Parmeter’s files, including his monthly reports (1979-1992), and materials documenting its relationship with the VRNPA (1973-1997) and the NPS (1975-1988).

The printed reports and publications include reports, statements, planning documents, proceedings, studies, and related publications created by or for the CCVNP, mainly documenting aspects of the administration and development of the VNP, while the clippings document both items of concern to the CCVNP and issues relating to management of the park.

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These records are organized into the following sections:

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Citizens' Council on Voyageurs National Park (Minn.). Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 2004-60

Processing Information:

Processed By: Rich Arpi, 2004; History written by Rich Arpi and Cheri Thies, 2004

Catalog ID number: 990029421620104294

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Many of the meeting folders, particularly between 1987 and 1992, also contain verbatim transcripts.

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Both incoming and outgoing letters, many with supporting documentation, detailing all aspects of the work of the CCVNP, particularly its relationships with state and federal representatives and senators, and with various organizations and private individuals involved with the park.

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Correspondence, financial and legal documents, photographs, reports, legislation, press releases, appointment certificates and member lists, and related materials documenting all aspects of the CCVNP's activities and duties. Of particular interest are series of the CCVNP's resolutions (1975-1999), trip files (1985-1997), VNP background files (1977-1999), Executive Director/consultant Don Parmeter's files, including his monthly reports (1979-1992), and materials documenting its relationship with the VRNPA (1973-1997) and the NPS (1975-1988).

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Chronologically arranged reports, statements, planning documents, proceedings, studies, and related publications created by or for the CCVNP, mainly documenting aspects of the administration and development of the VNP. Several were prepared by CCVNP executive director/consultant Don Parmeter.

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Mainly from the International Falls Daily Journal, with additional articles from the Duluth News-Tribune, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune or St. Paul Pioneer Press, and an occasional Canadian newspaper. About half the articles are photocopies. Clippings document both items of concern to the CCVNP and relating to management of the VNP.

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Citizens' advisory committees -- Minnesota.

Environmental policy.

Fisheries laws and legislation -- Minnesota.

Game laws -- Minnesota.

National parks and reserves -- Minnesota -- Management.

National parks and reserves -- Minnesota -- Planning.

National parks and reserves -- Law and legislation -- Minnesota.

Public lands -- Recreational use -- Minnesota.

Snowmobiles -- Environmental aspects.

Tourism -- Minnesota.

Wilderness areas -- Law and legislation -- Minnesota.

Persons:

Anderson, Irv, 1923-.

Esau, Ronald.

Knoll, Milton.

Parmeter, Donald.

Organizations:

Citizen's Committee on Voyageurs National Park.

Kettle Falls Hotel.

Minnesota. Commission on Reform and Efficiency.

United States. National Park Service

Voyageurs Region National Park Association.

Places:

Kabetogama Lake (Minn. and Ont.)

Namakan Lake (Minn. and Ont.)

Rainy Lake (Minn. and Ont.)

Voyageurs National Park (Minn.) -- Photographs.

Document Types:

Brochures.

Clippings.

Newsletters.

Press releases.

Resolutions.

Titles:

International Falls daily journal.

The Rainy Lake chronicle.

Voyageurs view.

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