Meet your Cook County Neighbor: Malikai Lucian-Allen Lothbrook
Nov 08, 2025 07:29AM ● By Editor
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A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - November 8, 2025
What is your favorite part about life in Cook County? Is there a favorite spot where you and your wife go to relax?
I love all seasons. Summer is wonderful because that's the time I go cray fishing for my best pal, Yusef. Fall is beautiful with all the colors, and it is my favorite hiking season. But winter is my favorite. It's quiet and peaceful. Our little town is so busy in the warm months. Which is great! Though I enjoy the serenity of our quiet little town. And plunging!! I really like to plunge. Winter is the best time for it. It's great for pain management, as well as spiritual meditation. You learn to control your body in a much different way. It's fascinating and I highly recommend it to people.
A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - November 8, 2025
How did you land in Cook County? What journey brought you here?
Hmmm, Well I suppose I would have to go back a few years. when my (now) wife, myself and a roommate decided to sell everything and go on the road to find the perfect piece of property to begin our journey to an off-grid, self-sustaining homestead. After over 100 days on the road, we finally found the perfect place. It was in Hibbing, about 15 mins outside of town. It had a private gated easement with 400 acres of surrounding forestry land. Private lake. It seemed too good to be true. And it was. We lived there for 3 years, happy to be getting back to our roots. The town itself had other plans. After multiple hate crimes, from minor property damage, with the last one being the death of livestock....the perpetrator shot our ducks. There was no justice. We were advised by local law enforcement that it might be a good idea to look elsewhere for land. So that is where our search for a new home began. We looked in the cities, outlying areas, etc. Then we started to look at the North Shore, beginning in Duluth. We almost bought a beautiful home there, but the hinderance was town ordinances in regards to raising chickens. We didn't want to be so limited in what we could raise. Silver Bay, Tofte, and Lutsen were all beautiful places but just not holding that hidden gem we so much desired to find. Then. There it was. The perfect home!!! 22 lush acres of Boreal forest and 1,000 feet of Flute Reed frontage. We immediately put in an offer and it was accepted!!!! We moved in last September.
What is your favorite part about life in Cook County? Is there a favorite spot where you and your wife go to relax?
The community!!! I adore the people here! The quirky artists, the bakers, the gift shop owners, the little niche shops. The attention to nature preservation. The respect given to the Ojibwe. I myself am Siksika.
For my favorite spot... hmmm. i have to pick one?! Well, Scruffy Dog Emporium has to be my favorite store. Annette has become a very close and dear friend to me. She has been there for me through some pretty rough times i was dealing with. No questions asked. Another thing about this community... the friendship. Like nowhere else. I also enjoy frequenting the spots we all know and love. Artist's Point, Five Mile, Cascade,, etc., But as for my spot of peace? Well, I am going to keep that one to myself, hehe. If i give away my secret spot, it won't be my secret spot anymore, will it?!
Will you tell us about your love for animals? Did you enjoy them as you grew up?
Just call me Dr. Doolittle! I have always had an affinity for animals. In fact, as a child, i even put together an animal first aid kit of sorts, complete with hand-made splints. I would make my mom keep it in the trunk of the car, just in case we happened to run into an injured animal. I would rescue snakes from the local cats, nurse them if they were injured. ALL of the neighborhood cats knew me. I would often go around and play with them in the neighbor's yards. I would walk the neighborhood dogs. A dream was to become a vet but school and I don't get along well HAHA. So instead, i have spent most of my time working on farms, starting my homestead, and rescuing. We currently have 4 dogs and 8 cats. 40 chickens and 12 ducks. I also aquascape. Currently I have 8 fish tanks, varying in size from 5 gallons to 120 gallons. Many of my fish are also rescues as well. My favorite animal are horses. I have worked on a few horse farms in my life. And it's the most rewarding experience to work with horses. I hope to someday own some of my own. But until then, I am happy to help out on farms.
If anyone would ask you for advice on moving to Cook County, what are some important things you would tell them to consider?
Don't get discouraged right away. The want to live up here outweighs the housing we currently have. But with determination, you'll find your place here. I feel very much that this community and place make dreams come true. Mine are, with hard work and being a part of the community. Another thing to remember when coming to our community is to remember to respect the townies and old timers. The folks up here have seen so many people come and go. We are, after all, a frontier. Which brings me to another bit of advice. Expect a culture shock. It truly is a small town, complete with difficulties in finding everything you need. We are so far up here and Duluth is our next closest stop for your well known store chains. There is no Walmart, no Target, no large grocery store. We have family-run hardware stores and grocery stores. But, you will always get what you need here... sometimes all it takes is a little post asking for a hand and the community steps up to make sure people have their needs met.
What is your favorite season in Cook County and why?
I love all seasons. Summer is wonderful because that's the time I go cray fishing for my best pal, Yusef. Fall is beautiful with all the colors, and it is my favorite hiking season. But winter is my favorite. It's quiet and peaceful. Our little town is so busy in the warm months. Which is great! Though I enjoy the serenity of our quiet little town. And plunging!! I really like to plunge. Winter is the best time for it. It's great for pain management, as well as spiritual meditation. You learn to control your body in a much different way. It's fascinating and I highly recommend it to people.
Are you still the "egg guy" selling fresh eggs? If so, how can people reach you if they wish to buy them from you?
I sure am still Kai the Egg Guy!! Currently my ladies are taking their winter break. I take my chicken raising very seriously. Many people supplement light and heat in their coops for the birds. That is not actually very healthy for the over all life of the chicken. They naturally need a break in their laying cycle to rest after all the hard work they do all summer. So, i suppose I have special seasonal eggs. And I will be back in full swing come springtime! People are welcome to get ahold of me until then to place orders and make plans for regular services. I can be contacted on Facebook (Malikai Lucian Allen Lothbrook), email [email protected] or by text (218) 966-3471. Be sure to leave me a message if you call! i don't always answer calls.
What is a surprising fact about you that many may not know?
I am mixed Native. I am Siksika (Blackfoot) and Italian. Much of the reason we chose Hovland is because of the proximity to Grand Portage and the ability to be closer to our relatives. I am reconnecting, as well is my wife Cassiopeia, who is Metis. After speaking with some of the elders, I was told that I am doing the best thing I could be doing. As i don't have access to my tribe, clan and heritage... I am learning from other relatives about our culture and language. Even if it isn't MY language, it is still fighting again the 500 year long genocide my people have endured in this county. If you havent noticed from many of my posts and comments in the various groups up here, I am a very loud opinionated Native man. I consider myself Ogichidaa. This means warrior in Ojibwe. It is the duty of Ogichidaa to protect the Elder and the children, as well as to spread the truth.
I am mixed Native. I am Siksika (Blackfoot) and Italian. Much of the reason we chose Hovland is because of the proximity to Grand Portage and the ability to be closer to our relatives. I am reconnecting, as well is my wife Cassiopeia, who is Metis. After speaking with some of the elders, I was told that I am doing the best thing I could be doing. As i don't have access to my tribe, clan and heritage... I am learning from other relatives about our culture and language. Even if it isn't MY language, it is still fighting again the 500 year long genocide my people have endured in this county. If you havent noticed from many of my posts and comments in the various groups up here, I am a very loud opinionated Native man. I consider myself Ogichidaa. This means warrior in Ojibwe. It is the duty of Ogichidaa to protect the Elder and the children, as well as to spread the truth.
