Welcome aboard the big canoe for some “River Time!”
On behalf of the Mighty Quapaws — Mark “River” Peoples, “Smooth” Ellis Coleman, “Water Possum” Layne Logue, “Jean-Canôt” Stephen Walker, “Solange” Karen Fraser, and “Mississippi” Matthew Burdine — a “Paddles Up!” — and a heartfelt “Whoo-Whoop!” We are the busy beavers of the Lower Mississippi River. We’ve got some goodness coming down the river for you in the fall of 2021, and boy are we glad to be back in the canoe to share with you!
(Thanks to Jean-Canôt for finding this new format, which seems to be perfectly fitted for our spirit and needs!)
(Photo by Rory Doyle)
~~~~~~~~ Friday, Sept 17, 2021 ~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~ Quapaw Canoe Company ~~~~~~~
Clarksdale, MS ~ Memphis, TN ~ Vicksburg, MS
Mark River Blog — The Stranded Ones
Mississippi River islands are some of the last untouched wilderness areas in our country. They are formed by a combination of the River's natural meanders, floodwaters, and man-made infrastructure. During low water, they are massive deserts of hematite sand and fossil full gravel beds on the top end, deciduous forest in the middle, along with swamps, bayous, and wetlands, with a sandy point protruding at the bottom with a glorious tall stand of willows, like palm trees in the sand.
During Summer Camp 2021, an observant group of students noticed a small stream-like feature pouring into the main channel the River from somewhere deep in the middle of the Buck Island (Prairie Point Towhead) where we made our first camp. I've seen such features time and time again on these islands. The River rises in the Spring from all the snow melt in the Rockies and Appalachian Mts. This annual rise is beneficial to the health and prosperity of the the River itself and all living things attached to it. They say if it's 10 species in the River itself, then there are 10,000 species in the wetlands and floodplains adjacent. When the water drops in the Summer, small inlets cut through the sand and empty back to the River. The waterways are full of small fry and fingerlings trying to survive making this treacherous journey. They either make this journey, or get landlocked in the middle of the island, and their faith be at the mercy of the River's next rise. At the mouth of the River sit big hungry fish of all species waiting for the conveyor belt full of food. Some fish, particular the gar species try to escape the ambush by a leap of faith around the gauntlet of predators, sometimes stranding themselves on land, sometimes compromising themselves and becoming food for the scavengers of the night like raccoons and coyotes who need the valuable protein to replenish their milk supply for hungry offspring.
“I watched closely as the group eased away from their electronics, letting the natural muse of the Mississippi River rid their minds of trials and tribulations on land, challenging their comfort zones and watching them grow daily…”
Here at Quapaw Canoe Company, we have just finished a month of summer camps for kids ages 6 through 18; girls and boys, women and men, black and white, LBTQ and straight. I watched closely as the group eased away from their electronics, letting the natural muse of the Mississippi River rid their minds of trials and tribulations on land, challenging their comfort zones and watching them grow daily. I couldn't believe the effect the River had on them. I thought the whole time that these individuals knew each other from school- later to find out they were all strangers. The bonding was smooth and swift. We had kids that lost parents to Covid-19, opiates and methemphedamines, and violence in our communities.
Our kids are stranded like those gar.
Dodging our society’s communal failures as they grow searching for their pathways, purposes, and passions in life. The River is the perfect place for that. The River treats everyone the same. There's no discrimination. Equality breaths through the surroundings. On land I recently encountered two of our most challenging campers and they received me with big hugs. I thought they hated me, keeping them structured, and sometimes raising my voice, but the River effected their souls like it effects me. It brings me peace and frees my soul. In our quest for equity and inclusion, the Mississippi River is a valuable, underutilized resource. From a boy born in East St.Louis, losing his Mother at 13, giving my life to the Mississippi River- I can honestly say that the River saved my life.
Author: Mark River Peoples
About Mark River:
Mark River Peoples is chief guide and youth leader for the Quapaw Canoe Company. He produces and narrates an ongoing podcast called "May the River be With You." He is southern leader of the 1Mississippi Program, which connects people who care about rivers with the people who make decisions about rivers. He is self-isolating during pandemic in the canoe shop for construction of the next big canoe, and in very limited river trips with discrete groups of clients. His blog writing is inspired by his work on the Mississippi River -- and its many tributaries such as the Yazoo, the Big Sunflower and the Arkansas Rivers.
Mark River grew up hunting and fishing along the river with his father near St. Louis, MO. After attending Central Missouri State University, and becoming defensive back with the New York Giants, Mark left a career in professional football for the river. Mark is a writer for the Lower Mississippi River Dispatch and shares his intimate & nature-filled musings about river life in presentations and online platforms. When not on the water, Mark mentors Mississippi Delta youth and educates them on the importance of the protection and preservation of our national treasure for generations to come. He himself is a tributary to his community, like the stream is to the big river. Mark works hard on changing the perception of our great River and its tributaries. Through river trips, cleanups, and workshops, Mark’s goal is overall systemic health of the Mississippi River.
May the River be With You by Mark River Podcast #8 Climate Change
Climate Change is affecting the flooding, ecology and commerce along the Mississippi River. Learn how it is changing everything from the migration of monarchs (butterflies!) hatching season of mayflies to the growth of invasive plantsand the patterns of snow geesewhile also disrupting the flow of barges and their cargo along the waterway.
May the River be With You!
Jump on board the big muddy with your guide Mark "River" Peoples and feel the powerful, storied currents of the Mighty Mississippi River pull at your feet and open your imagination. "May The River Be With You" focuses on how the largest river in North America influences and impacts our culture, from arts and education to ecology and commerce. In each episode, we discuss how the river affects us all in unexpected ways while also featuring music, poetry, tales and myths inspired by the river itself.
Podcast presented by the Quapaw Canoe Company with support from 1Mississippi, and the Mississippi River Network. Hosted by Mark River Peoples. Produced by Coop Cooper. Artwork, music, and narratives by Johnnie “Driftwood” Ruskey.
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Podcast made possible by 1Mississippi:
Dear Friends, Family, and Fellow Adventurers & River-Rats: Welcome Aboard the Big Canoe for some “River Time!”
This is a continuation of the journey that began with the LMRD, the Lower Mississippi River Dispatch, some 23 years ago, letter by letter, from a cave in the banks of the Sunflower River. The year was 1999. I had just started Quapaw Canoe Company the previous year, and was looking for a way to share the many strange and wonderful things I experienced on the Mississippi River, the shapes and patterns and colors of this phenomenal muddy landscape and its profusion of life. Sharing began with individual emails to scattered friends & family. But from there it grew, and branched out to all corners of the world, mostly in the Deep South, and along the big river, but also horizontally, coast to coast, across the Americas, and then on over the seven seas — many of you are over the waters, from Ecuador to Iceland, from South Africa to Japan, from India to England. We love it! The river connects us all, and we feel like we are doing a better job when we share with all. This is one world. One sweet and tender Mother Earth. We now know that more than ever before. We all breathe the same air, we all drink the same water.
844 issues in all. Mighty Quapaw Jean-Canôt found this new format, which seems to be perfectly fitted for our spirit and needs (Thanks Jean-Canôt!). The first one in new format will be #845. Our muddy gritty content will remain the same, but the format is smoother, and better suited to our creative natures as river guides. Would you help us in this important step? Please let us know what you think, and how it looks — as we work our way through new waters, like a family of beavers! We do this for you, so we want your input. We are building this new format as we enter our busy Fall season, and you can help us paddle this canoe! (BTW: you readers can now comment and carry the conversation onward at the bottom of any newsletter.)
From this dispatch onward, you will receive newsletters as you did previously, via email. In addition, you can find newsletters at quapaw.substack.com. We’ll of course update our home archive at Quapaw Canoe Company simultaneously. Visit the website to read the full archives and other posts as they are published.
One cool new aspect — you can share! Please comment on articles, or share them with friends, by forwarding, or in social media. You can also reply to any newsletter by hitting reply.
On behalf of the entire Mighty Quapaw team, I remain yours, forever in service of the big river,
John “Johnnie Driftwood” Ruskey
Our Range of River: The Lower Mississippi: 1154 miles of free-flowing bliss!
PS: Some housekeeping:
If you no longer wish to receive, it’s easy to unsubscribe. Just hit the “Unsubscribe Button” at the bottom of this email, or at the bottom of any copy of “River Time” that you receive. FYI: we respect your privacy. Addresses are never shared or used in any other way except for this newsletter.
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Thanks again, and please tell a few friends, if you feel like it. And last of all, but most importantly, we hope you get out for some River Time soon!
Note: all artwork and maps (c) John Ruskey except where otherwise noted. Feel free to share, but please credit appropriately. Thank you!