William “Willow Bill” Goulardt invites the public on a voyage down the Mississippi River aboard two dugout canoes, beginning mid-May from Bemidji, Minnesota. As they journey to the state of Mississippi to return the ‘Flying Eagle’ canoe to her maker, master carver John Ruskey, the crew hopes to engage people of all ages through a common love for the river. Plus, a Duluth third grader saves a choking friend, and Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls has four finalists in its search for a new president.
Transcript
HOST: You are listening to North Star Stories - voices from where we live - a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: Today, a Duluth student receives a hero recognition, followed by a canoe journey on the Mississippi honoring craftsmanship and history. And, Northland Community College is closer to announcing a new president. I’m Chantel SinGs.
ANCHOR: A Duluth third grader lends a helping hand. Milan Alkaeid was eating breakfast in the cafeteria at north star academy, when he noticed something wrong with his friend. Oskar’s face had gone red. He wasn’t breathing and he was slapping his hand on the table. Without hesitation, Milan got up and performed the Heimlich maneuver, dislodging the stuck food and saving Oskar's life. On February 25, Milan Alkaeid was presented a lifesaver award at a Duluth Public Schools Academy board meeting in recognition of his heroic act.
ANCHOR: Next, a journey on the Mississippi river to return the ‘Flying Eagle’ canoe to her master carver. Reporter Maija Hecht has more.
William Goulardt: About 18 years ago, I was shanghaied by a small group of men that were retracing the steps of Lewis and Clark.
Maija Hecht: That's William Goulardt, or Willow Bill, as he is affectionately known across the Western US in recognition of his wood craftsmanship, using thin willow branches to build sculptures of reindeer.
William Goulardt: Gentleman named John Ruskey sucks me into becoming a dugout canoe captain. So now I share dugout canoes with people across America.
Maija Hecht: In May, Willow will embark on a voyage down the Mississippi River to return one of those canoes, the Flying Eagle to its maker, John Ruskey, beginning in Bemidji, Minnesota, Willow and his crew are inviting Minnesotans to join the reunion journey, whether for a few hours or a few weeks. We run on rigid flexibility, as long as it's safe, because it's safety first, we get everybody on chippers ahead. You know, we're here from Minnesota. They hope to bring school groups, families and adventure seekers paddling to share a common love for water and inspire the next generation of water stewards.
William Goulardt:
I love and care about this earth, it's planet, it's people. What John taught me.
Maija Hecht: John Ruskey is a canoe carver and the founder of Quapaw Canoe Guiding Company, which operates out of cities in Tennessee and Mississippi state on the lower Mississippi River.
William Goulardt: They share the canoes with children and give them rides and teach them about safety and protecting the waters, caring for each other
Maija Hecht: Before running Quapaw Canoe Guide Company, John and Carver's Jim Jamieson, Michael F Clark and Willow Bill adventured together to retrace thesteps of Lewis and Clark across North America, but backwards. This led to more trips down the Columbia and Snake rivers, years of community and children's canoe workshops and more dugout canoes carved by many hands over the decades.
William Goulardt: I was told that you gotta listen to the log. In the beginning, anything can be carved, but should be carved to become a dugout canoe. You gotta listen to the log, and the log will tell you what is up and what is down.
Maija Hecht: Dugout canoes are made from single, hollowed out logs.
William Goulardt:
You let it balance itself out, instead of guessing on where you think the center masses the log will tell you.
Maija Hecht: If you see a pair of dugout canoes on the Mississippi River in May, that's Willow and you're welcome to come say hi.
William Goulardt: You know, we plan to be on the Mississippi for six months. Come down and be a part of it. Come down. Get your dugout canoe on. Come get your trip on.
Maija Hecht: Maya Hecht for North Star Stories.
ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories. Northland Community and Technical College is one step closer to announcing its new president. A search committee made up of students, faculty, staff, and community leaders have narrowed the selection down to four. The finalists include two internal candidates including the current interim president. Shari Olson has been leading the college since July of last year. The Minnesota state board of trustees will meet in mid-April to discuss the four finalists. The new permanent president is scheduled to start on July first.
HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS - Diverse Radio for Minnesota's Communities - with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at AMPERS dot ORG.