BY: Laura Wadsten, Nick Hampson
EDITOR: Wendy Nardi
Hunterbrook Media’s investment affiliate, Hunterbrook Capital, does not have any positions related to this film at the time of publication. Positions may change at any time. See full disclosures on our website.
Decades of contamination. Families displaced. A neighborhood erased. Tribal lifeways disrupted.
Alarming public health data led Hunterbrook to investigate the St. Regis Superfund site located on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe reservation in Cass Lake, Minnesota.
Leo Anderson bought a camera to document what the contaminated site was doing to his hometown. His tapes sat in storage for 20 years – until now.
Killing Cass Lake explores the history and lasting impact of the former wood treatment plant on the local community and the Leech Lake Band. More than 40 years after the EPA added the site to its National Priorities List, cleanup remains unfinished and the health, cultural and economic harms endure.
Hunterbrook analyzed 13 years of Minnesota death records (2011–2024, MN Department of Health individual-level data). Our analysis found:
Life expectancy in Cass Lake is 17 years shorter than the Minnesota average
Half of Cass Lake residents die before age 65, versus roughly one in five statewide
Among communities adjacent to other Superfund sites across Minnesota, Cass Lake residents die youngest
While our analysis cannot conclusively prove a causal link between any single death and the toxins at the site, decades of persistent contamination have harmed the community in myriad ways.
Local residents feel that the current owner of the former plant, International Paper, has evaded meaningful accountability by delaying, litigating, and trying to limit what it pays for cleanup. International Paper did not respond to Hunterbrook’s repeated requests for comment.
Despite years of pushback from International Paper, the Band and local residents continue fighting for a proper cleanup.
This is the latest investigation in Hunterbrook Media’s series Poisoned USA. For decades, companies have polluted communities and ecosystems across the U.S. We’ve built a nationwide database to expose this harm and drive accountability. After reporting from a dozen states across the country, this investigation takes us to Minnesota.
–
Leo Anderson contributed videography, voiceovers, photos and reporting. Leo grew up on and around what would become the St. Regis Superfund site in Cass Lake, where his grandparents, cousins and many friends also lived. As a kid, he played with family and friends on contaminated ground and around contaminated water. In the early 2000s, he began filming the people he grew up with so their stories wouldn’t be lost with them.
Dhruv Patel contributed data analysis and visualization. Motion Graphics by Blue Panda Collective.
AUTHORS
Laura Wadsten is an investigative journalist specializing in healthcare. She began her career reporting on antitrust and healthcare as a Correspondent for The Capitol Forum, a premium financial publication. Laura was a Hodson Scholar and Editor-in-Chief of The News-Letter at Johns Hopkins University, where she earned a B.A. in Medicine, Science & the Humanities.
Nick Hampson is a British-American film producer, director and editor, most known for his 2020 Emmy award nominated documentary, In The Cold Dark Night, which aired on ABC and Hulu in the US, and SKY in the UK. The film was produced by RadicalMedia, and exec produced by Biz Stone (founder of Twitter) and Greg Yaitanes (producer of L.O.S.T, Grey’s Anatomy). Nick also directed the 2017 political documentary, EuroTrump (Hulu/VICELAND), about notorious, controversial right wing Dutch politician Geert Wilders. The film premiered at DOC NYC and Sheffield Doc Fest. Nick produces, directs and edits all of Hunterbrook’s film content, including the 2026 short documentary, Killing Cass Lake. Nick is a graduate from the University of Oxford, where he studied Music, and when not making films he’s touring internationally as a pop artist under his pseudonym, Now Ex. Nick is based in London.
EDITOR
Wendy Nardi joined Hunterbrook after working as a developmental and copy editor for academic publishers, government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and international scholars. She has been a researcher and writer for documentary series and a regular contributor to The Boston Globe. Her other publications range from magazine features to fiction in literary journals. She has an M.A. in Philosophy from Columbia University and a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia.
DISCLOSURES
© 2026 Hunterbrook Media LLC. All rights reserved. Use of this website is strictly governed by our Terms of Use. The content herein is furnished on an “AS IS” basis without any form of express or implied warranty. For information regarding our privacy practices, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
Hunterbrook Media LLC (”Hunterbrook Media”) is an investigative news organization. Hunterbrook Media is affiliated with Hunterbrook Capital LP (”Hunterbrook Capital”), an exempt reporting adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that serves as investment adviser to one or more investment funds. Hunterbrook Media and Hunterbrook Capital are legally separate entities under common control. Hunterbrook Capital’s investment activities are one source of funding for Hunterbrook Media’s journalistic operations. Hunterbrook Capital may hold long positions, short positions, positions through derivative instruments including options and swaps, or no position in any security covered or mentioned on this website. Consistent with applicable policies and procedures, Hunterbrook Capital may establish, modify, or close positions in covered securities before or after the publication of any Hunterbrook Media article. Following publication of any article, Hunterbrook Capital will continue transacting in covered securities for an indefinite period and may be long, short, or flat at any time thereafter, regardless of any position described at publication. Hunterbrook Media has no obligation to update any article or disclosure to reflect subsequent changes in Hunterbrook Capital’s positions.
Nothing on this website constitutes investment advice, a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell any security, or a solicitation to purchase or sell any securities. No securities shall be offered or sold in any jurisdiction where such activities would be contrary to applicable securities laws. Hunterbrook Media is not a registered investment adviser in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice or a recommendation of any kind. This information should not be relied upon as a substitute for independent research or professional financial, legal, or tax advice.
This website may feature forward-looking statements reflecting Hunterbrook Media’s current views. Such statements, identifiable by terms including but not limited to “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “should,” and “will,” are inherently speculative and subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results or outcomes may substantially deviate from those projected. Hunterbrook Media expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, regardless of subsequent developments or new information.
The information presented is current as of the date indicated. No representation regarding the completeness or timeliness of this information is made. Some information is sourced from third parties and, while believed to be reliable, has not been independently verified, and its accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed. Hunterbrook Media is not affiliated with any sites linked to this website. Investment in securities and other financial instruments involves significant risk, including the potential loss of principal. Users are advised to conduct their own due diligence and consult professional advisors before engaging in any investment activity. Use of Hunterbrook Media’s content is entirely at the user’s risk. Users shall not use this site for any illegal or prohibited purposes and shall comply with all applicable local, state, national, and international laws and regulations.
Should any provision of these Terms of Use be adjudged invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Trademarks contained in links to third-party websites belong to their respective owners. Hunterbrook Media retains copyright on all text, content, graphics, and trademarks displayed on this site.