2023 One Book is “Hudson Bay Bound”

Fargo, North Dakota – The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, in collaboration with the Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo Public Libraries, the Carl B. Ylvisaker Library at Concordia College, the Livingston Lord Library at Minnesota State University Moorhead, the North Dakota State University Libraries, and the North Dakota State University Libraries have chosen Natalie Warren’s book “Hudson Bay Bound: Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic” as the 2023 One Book, One Community selection.

The incredible 85-day canoe trip taken by the first women to cover the 2,000-mile distance from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay is chronicled in the book. Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho encountered unforeseen challenges along the journey made famous by Eric Sevareid in his 1935 novel “Canoeing with the Cree,” some terrifying and others just bizarre. The two friends occasionally run against obstacles along the way that put their character and friendship to the test. In Warren’s narrative, the women’s journey from inspiration to the Arctic Ocean is retraced, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at everything from the logistics of organizing a three-month canoe voyage to the successful completion of the once-in-a-lifetime undertaking. The book follows four contemporary women as they reenact this historic journey, highlighting the joys and dangers, sexism, social and environmental repercussions, and the enduring wonder of the wilderness. They are accompanied by their dog.

Warren, a Minnesotan voyageur who has written, studied, and spoken publicly on environmental issues, canoed the whole length of the Mississippi River and took first place in the women’s voyageur division of the Yukon River Quest by covering 450 miles in 53 hours. She has worked with Bancroft Arnesen Explore, the St. Croix River Association, and the River Management Society as a freelance writer for outdoor periodicals. She also founded a foundation to promote urban rivers as active, natural schools for children.

The One Book, One Community reading initiative for this year begins in August and includes a range of activities like book discussions, talks, movies, and other programs. On October 19, an author will visit Concordia College’s Knutson Campus Center Centrum as part of the event series. At a later time, more information on the author visit will be made public.

At each of the participating libraries, copies of the book will be available for checkout in a variety of formats. Contact Lori West at lwest@fargolibrary.org for book club materials. Visit any participating library’s website beginning on July 15 for a list of related activities and resources, or visit www.1book1community.org after that date for information.

The One Book, One Community reading initiative, now in its 12th year, focuses on the communal reading of a single book and is committed to fostering a shared dialogue along with a variety of related events and activities for locals of all ages.

The public is welcome to attend all One Book, One Community activities for free. This project is supported by Concordia Cultural Events, the Friends of the Fargo Public Library, the Friends of the West Fargo Public Library, and the Friends of the Moorhead Library, and is made possible in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.In its 12th year, the One Book, One Community reading project centers on the community-wide reading of a single book and is dedicated to creating a shared conversation along with a range of related events and activities for residents of all ages.

All One Book, One Community events are free and open to the public. This project is made possible in part with funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and supported by Concordia Cultural Events, Friends of the Fargo Public Library, Friends of the West Fargo Public Library and the Friends of the Moorhead Library.