Elder Times

Series produced by Bois Forte Tribal Community Radio

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PRX default Series image 

KBFT interviewed some elders in the community to share some recollections of their lives on the reservation and how things have changed over the years.

KBFT through interviews with some local elders in the community will provide some history into the lives, events and changes that occurred in the Nett Lake and Lake Vermilion Reservation communities. Some describe how they received sacred items, such as a pipe to be used in healing and ceremonies, while another describes how they did not discover their ‘indianness’ until they moved back to the reservation much later in their life.


18 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Ron remembers there used to be a carnival during the spring pow wow celebration. The carnival had a ferris wheel, swing rides etc. He shares the im...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 08:38
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Ron and his cousins would like to wait for the ricers to come off the lake and see if they had left over sandwiches. The selling of berries bought ...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 07:45
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Ron was born and raised in the Nett Lake village. He grew up with the Strong boys, cutting wood, hauling water for the families.

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 10:46
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Linda talks about the curvy dirt road into town and how her uncles used to work for the county to help maintain those roads. Linda was born in a ho...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 09:20
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Linda remembers how significant country music was in the native american community in her youth. Linda and family used to go camping to pick berrie...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 10:41
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Linda recalls wild rice season when she was about 7 and 8 years old and the many visitors from all over coming in to rice. The people used to leave...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 10:31
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Ken believes that people using their powers for selfish reasons is abuse and results in the loss of those personal powers. Ken used to go to Canada...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 08:27
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Ken shares the old days back when they used to have Chiefs that led the people in the community. Ken shares how they used to use sticks with colore...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 10:21
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Ken recalls Ira White, the indian agent that lived in the community and let Ken watch tv when he was young. Ken remembers going on 3 and 4 day camp...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 10:11
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Ken remembers life was pretty tough when he was growing up but he was happy. Ken helping Elders is still an important thing in his life today.

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 10:19
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Gary as a young person always had something to do. Hunting and sharing his game with elders was a common and valued thing with him.

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 08:57
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Gary shares how people used to hunt for ducks across the lake and watching them come home in their canoes. Gary shares the memory of damage caused ...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 09:42
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Kay, being a Tribal Historian describes the Chippewa migration from the east coast to where we live in Minnesota today. Kay's adult children, that ...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 09:39
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Kay shares more about her father and his practice in the local pow wows. Kay doesn't feel that she is a 'traditional indian' but the quarter of Ind...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 09:39
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Kay grew up in Montana and did not learn of her 'Indian'ness' until she was much older. Kay was 27 when she first came to an 'Indian Reservation' a...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 09:40
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Harold shares about his younger male relatives, their struggles and accomplishments. Harold feels a lot has changed in the reservation community fr...

Bought by KKWE Niijii Radio and KFAI Minneapolis


  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 11:56
  • Purchases: 2
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Harold, shares how he got his first pipe and who gave it to him. Harold recalls his mother screaming at a snake on the dirt floor of the log cabin ...

Bought by KKWE Niijii Radio and KFAI Minneapolis


  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 09:26
  • Purchases: 2
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Harold, the last living member of his immediate family recalls how as a young boy an elder medicine man came to visit him in the hospital. The old ...

Bought by KKWE Niijii Radio and KFAI Minneapolis


  • Added: Dec 19, 2014
  • Length: 10:25
  • Purchases: 2