Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities

In his 50 years playing music in the Twin Ports, this singer/songwriter/guitarist has performed in a long list of projects that includes Azure du Jour, Blue Healer, Spotted Mule, and Jim’s Country Laundry. He’s released numerous albums, both solo and with groups, and has written many much-beloved tunes, including “Beast in the Yard.” Truly a Duluth treasure, Hall played a 50th anniversary show on November 16 at Sacred Heart Music Center in Duluth; he joined us in the studio for a preview on November 14.

Gillian Bedford has been exhibiting her artwork since the 1980s in galleries across the United States. Part of personal collections in Sweden, Germany, and South Africa, her pieces are now finding their way into homes right here in the northwoods of Minnesota . Her husband’s career brought them to Bemidji this past summer. It was a life move that took them far from home, but one she’s been thrilled about in more ways than one. In this Area Voices segment, we learn about Gillian’s path to Bemidji, how her art continues to change, her creative process, and how Bemidji’s art scene helped create a sense of community in her new hometown.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and the changes it has inspired, the Beltrami Historical Society, League of Women Voters and the Bemidji Public Library recently hosted a “Women in Politics” panel discussion featuring several women from the Bemidji area who hold leadership roles in politics and beyond. Three of those panelists, President of Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College Dr. Faith Hensrud, Bemidji Mayor Rita Albrecht and Bemidji City Councilwoman Emelie Rivera stopped by the morning show and discussed a variety of topics related to their paths to leadership positions, the impact of mentors, navigating obstacles and much more.

On a search for the meaning of Wassegijig, his family name, Michael Wassegijig Price found himself in an inspiring world of Indigenous narratives that had been written in the stars. His quest led him to a world of star knowledge and stories nearly forgotten due to colonialism forcing the loss of native culture and language for so many years. Upon realizing the existence of this world of wisdom, his thirst for more information, more history, more language simply could not be quenched. Today, the flow of new understandings rooted in old-world teachings continues to inspire Michael as he uncovers more and more stories from his own Anishinaabe culture as well as other Indigenous cultures across the globe.

Michael Wassegijig Price visited the morning show recently and told us how his passion for star stories was ignited and how it has influenced him. He shared Indigenous star stories of common constellations from different Indigenous cultures that enlightened people in terms of creation stories, planting seasons and more.

For more information about the work Michael is doing, check out his blog Revolving Sky where he’ll be adding stories and understanding regularly.

What so many of the people I interviewed longed for – what I long for – is the ability to return to the place where our ancestors lived and be welcomed there, as part of the living, breathing story of the people who call it home. ~Staci Lola Drouillard