Cook County Historical Society 2026 Speaker Series featuring Michael Risku: “Following the Fish”

Minnesota author Michael Risku will present a comprehensive look at the commercial fishing industry that once defined North Shore communities from Knife River to Grand Portage, based on his new book, Following the Fish: A History of Commercial Fishing Along Minnesota’s North Shore (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2026).

Drawing on oral histories and years of research, Risku explores the life of Indigenous fishers and Nordic immigrants, the geography that shaped their trade, and the eventual collapse of the industry.

Risku, who was born into a commercial fishing family and holds a Coast Guard captain’s license, is a professor emeritus from the University of the Incarnate Word and resides in Two Harbors.

Admission is free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

This event is part of the Cook County Historical Society 2026 Speaker Series. Learn more: cookcountyhistory.org/2026-speaker-series

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