Giving Back and Passing it On: Discovering a Sense of Place and Preserving it for the Future
I wrote this paper as a required assignment for a class I took in 2011 called “Making it Home in the Kickapoo Valley: Cultural Tour for Teachers”. The Kickapoo River is found in southwest Wisconsin in the heart of Wisconsin’s Driftless area. A region defined by: crystal clear trout streams, pastoral valleys dotted with farms, and forested hillsides teaming with large deer and other wildlife. This unknown and often overlooked region of Wisconsin is one of my favorite places to visit. The class illustrated the importance of “place” in creating the inseparable attributes of history, culture, art, and science. It was an outstanding class that reminded me how everything is connected. I am hoping this realization strengthens my teaching by recognizing the importance of interdisciplinary lessons in creating depth to help students relate to content and learn. By reading this paper, I hope you get a feel for this area and get the chance to visit.
Having just finished this course, I am now faced with the daunting task of digesting all the new knowledge and experiences shared with us and writing a paper focused on a singular theme. A reflective paper, although arduous and time consuming, provides the perfect opportunity to internalize my experiences had this past week and identify with them in hopes of building off my own “story” and making what I have learned genuine and authentic.
I have to admit, I took this course primarily to renew an environmental studies teaching license. Being a “science guy”, classes relating to culture and the humanities have little appeal to me; those are the “touchy feely” social sciences that do not directly relate to my passion of ecology and the discovery of all its intricate pieces. However, having been a frequent visitor to the Kickapoo Valley and aware of the “back to the land” lifestyles that many choose here, I felt this course would be a great way to learn the history of the area and discover the reasons that make it so unique and a true gem of the Midwest. It was simply time to “dig deeper” into this land and discover why the people that live here have created a culture that makes most people envious and long for its presence in the community from which they came.
I simply often tend to forget the importance of “people” in the equation of ecology. When examining the Valley’s history and lifestyles of its current residents, this area is a testimony of how people are connected to and dependent on the land. Even though in today’s mainstream culture those connections are not as direct and obvious, we will never be able to break away from this fact. In this realization, my passion for conservation and wise stewardship of the land has been greatly strengthened and my role of teaching as being so much more than simply reading, writing, and arithmetic actualized. Today, the mottos of: “Giving Back” and “Passing it On” are more relevant than ever when trying to instill an environmental ethic in others. It is time to spend more time sharing my “places” and hobbies with others so that they discover the value of the great outdoors and see it fit to protect them accordingly. Furthermore, I should not frown upon the fact that others have discovered my “places” by sharing the same hobbies I have grown to love. Although these insights have been a long time in the making, I feel this class has been instrumental in putting them in focus thus prompting me to integrate my beliefs into action, whether through my teaching or day to day living. In this paper, I will focus on the many examples of how the practice of “giving back” was exemplified throughout the week; and how this practice runs through the culture of the Valley similar to how the Kickapoo River meanders in the Valley itself.
The book “Driftless” by David Rhodes sets the tone for the class and demonstrates how the character makeup of those living in the Coulee Region is linked to the land on which they live. Although the fictional town of Words lacks the modernity and convenience of larger towns and most of its inhabitants are not wealthy, they are rich in that they reap the benefits of hard work and a true sense of community. I feel the rugged homesteaders of the Kickapoo Valley could not have survived without the occasional assistance of their neighbor. Likewise, the agricultural history of the Valley lends itself well to explain its present day kindness of its residents and willingness to help those in need, which I have been on the receiving end throughout my many visits here. David’s book preserves and shares this unique area with readers throughout the nation as illustrated in the excerpts from the reviews on the book’s back cover. He recognizes the importance of telling a story about an area which he feels is special. Some would argue that the parts of a community (individuals) are bigger than the community itself, I feel this is seldom true in rural agricultural communities located throughout WI.
The story of the failed La Farge Lake dam project although initially about “taking” ironically ended up about “giving back”. This story is fascinating on many levels, incorporating aspects of politics, socioeconomics and environmental activism. None of these components can be talked about in isolation, illustrating the complexity of land use issues due to the inherent bond between people, the place in which they live and the laws that govern them. The history of the dam project reads like a soap opera in which the changing times in which it was written ultimately ends up responsible for its demise.
One needs to ask: was it right for the federal government to displace over 140 farms so as to accommodate the reservoir made by the dam? Does this local issue need to involve “big brother” in the form of the federal government? Did the federal government have to propose a dam that goes beyond the function of simple flood control to include an additional motive of recreational development? My first reaction is simple: a dam needs to be built to prevent the flooding of downtown communities such as La Farge and Gays Mills. A small dam would have served that purpose well while minimizing the number of upstream farms displaced. The forced sacrifice of a few would benefit more. I believe the federal government (the Corps) needed to be involved because they have the resources to complete such a project and they would ultimately end up saving money by lessening the need for federal aid in the form of flood relief after future inevitable floods that would be sure to happen without the dam.
However, in accordance with the first law of ecology: “Nature Knows Best” I realize that creating a dam of any size was a foolish idea. The Kickapoo River is meant to be a river, not a lake. The more our land use goes against nature’s original intent, the more energy (work) and resources (money…) you have to commit. Whether created for flood control or hydropower, a dam is not only costly to maintain, but it also destroys a river ecosystem. The expense of dam repair and maintenance has led to the fact that WI leads the nation in dam removal. In short, it makes more sense removing those communities that live in a floodplain than altering the water body that does the flooding.
Even though local opinion on the dam project seems to be varied, I am thankful it did not come to fruition. With its failure, approximately 9,000 acres was given back to both the state and the Ho Chunk nation. Combined with Wildcat Mountain State Park to the north, a large tract of a river ecosystem and its surrounding uplands harboring glacial relic communities have been preserved. Moreover, we are able to witness the natural succession of cleared land and old farmland back to its natural state. With the Kickapoo Valley Reserve’s Visitor center serving as a gateway to the Valley, the public has access to a spectacular exhibit including both the natural and human components of the Valley’s story. Furthermore, the many environmental and cultural education programs it offers do more than just educate the public; it provides an intimate access point to the great outdoors in a way that could not be discovered alone. Who knows, maybe their experience in the Valley may inspire them to protect natural areas from where they are from, or even donate land to parks or DNR easements for hunting and fishing…
I was grateful to hear the stories of the Lower Weister Creek community and the experience reminded me of the importance of treasuring the older generations and the stories they have to tell. The surviving members of this tight little community were gracious enough to spend some time with the class and give us an inside look at a small rural WI agricultural community of yesteryear which cannot be fully appreciated by reading books alone. Even though the community proper was extirpated in preparation for Lake La Farge, the people remain close until this very day. I drew a parallel with their recollection of their one room school-house and the small charter school I teach at. Both require effort from both the teacher and students to operate effectively.
Moreover, I recall my mother’s remembrance of her experience for a year in a one room school house called Meadowbrook as being one of her most cherished and educationally rich experience. This says a lot considering the remainder of her schooling took place during the 1950’s in the then booming city of Milwaukee. I am also more appreciative of having known by grandparents on both sides of the family and a great grandmother or the large family reunions which tell family history so the younger generations can pass it on to their kids. In summary, the Lower Weister Creek community represents a cohesiveness that I feel cannot be recreated today given today’s social media technology and transportation infrastructure which enables us to routinely connect to those far beyond our neighbors. However, we can learn from the community by noting what they valued and focusing our efforts to reach out with those “back home” in a hope to strengthen our own sense of belonging and foster pride in the place where we live.
The Ho Chunk component of the tour enriched my understanding of their culture and exemplified the preservation of tradition. Bill Quackenbush’s history lesson of the tribe reminded me that their land was taken and that treaty rights pertaining to the harvest of game in a method unlike my own are justly warranted. Rhonda Funmaker’s discussion of preparing our meal demonstrated the Ho Chunk’s philosophy of the Earth as being the giver of life, consequently deserving our full esteem that should guide our usage of its resources. I could actually taste the heartiness in the meal and it was the quintessential example of what we call “soul food”. The merits of buying locally grown organic food for taste, nutrition and sustainability were evident after eating the meal she prepared. I now have a greater appreciation of the Ho Chunk’s efforts to preserve tradition and feel we have borrowed a lot of their views in creating the major tenets found in the rebirth of the sustainability movement we are witnessing today.
The visit to the Ken and Michelle Workowski’s residence gave me a first-hand account of “making it” in the driftless area as an artisan specializing in bent willow furniture and other wood crafts. What first struck me about the couple was the openness and enthusiasm in sharing their passions with complete strangers. While viewing their workshop and sample work, it became evident that they love what they do and have a wealth of knowledge about their craft which is unbeknownst to many. Not only do they know how to work with wood, but they understand the biology of trees and basics of silviculture to ensure a good product and sustain the very resource that allows them to make a living.
The tour of their home and “sugar shack” was awe inspiring. Living “off the grid”, they utilize photovoltaics for electricity and wood for heat as the primary means to make it possible. The home was perched on a ledge among trees overlooking a serene valley. Using a “water ram”, they draw and transport water from a spring in the valley to their home. The inside of the house was extremely cozy and like its placement in general, had a feel of belonging to the land as opposed to being placed on it. The current construction of a root cellar and prairie restoration adds to the homestead’s “back to the land” feel which embodies the Workowski’s belief in sustainable living. It is clear that they have put in a lot of hard work to achieve their dream, but with resolve they persevered and although always a work in progress, they are able to reap the fruits of their labor. When the group I carpooled with was driving home, we all agreed we can all do more to be a good steward of the Earth.
During our visit, Ken shared a rather personal story of not wanting to share his knowledge of his trade with a friend who wanted to learn. For fear of competition, Ken chose not to which he eventually realized was a selfish and foolish reaction. Michelle commented how he let his ego get the best of him and Ken commented how today he is willing to teach anyone his methods; and that it was simply time to “give back” to the trade that has given him great pleasure over the years. This was a key moment of the tour for me because it allowed me to realize that my passions, of hunting and fishing, are bigger than myself. Not only does the land and waters on which I practice my hobbies need protection, but the right to hunt and fish needs to be defended more so than any other time in our country’s history. Ken’s willingness to share an incident demonstrating a specific character flaw, which all of us are guilty of, led to my own epiphany creating a lens through which I could tie together all my new experiences had throughout the week, thus allowing me to see the “big picture”. And that big picture I have just shared with you.
In conclusion, the past week has put things in perspective for me and has unveiled the importance of the selfless actions of “giving back” and “passing it on”. Having recently turned 37, I have been uncovering the inherent importance of these actions as part of my “growing up”. I think of what it would be like today if Leopold, Olson, and Muir and the other pioneers of the environmental movement had not taken time to fight for what they knew what was right. Would the flowing waters of the Driftless area still look like the historical photos found on the educational billboard at the West Fork campsite in Avalanche which document? We need to never forget those images. Professionally, I feel rejuvenated to foster an environmental ethic in my students knowing their generation is the future for conservation. I have recently been approached to head the WAV (water action volunteer) citizen stream monitoring program in the Black River Falls area which I am excited to involve my school in. Personally, I need to start changing my mindset when encountering others and discussing my favorite trout waters, grouse thickets, or pheasant fields. No matter what state they are from, they value the same thing I do and therefore should be viewed as an ally rather than adversary. Outdoorsmen, the original conservationists, are still pivotal in protecting our land and waters. It is time to reach out and involve others in my hobbies in hopes of getting them outside and exposing them perhaps to a new way to enjoy the outdoors or maybe simply showing them a new place to enjoy. I should know the importance of this since it was a friend in college that turned me on to this area over ten years ago. I challenge you to share those places that you hold special with others and look for the stories that can only add to your understanding and appreciation.
