Into the Wild
A journey paddling the Lower Mississippi River with Quapaw Canoe Company
An undergraduate multimedia thesis for the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at the University of Mississippi
Humanity’s profound relationship with water is undeniable. From our reliance on it for sustenance and transportation to the recreation it provides, water is a fundamental aspect of our existence. Yet, in our contemporary era, we find ourselves increasingly disconnected from this life-giving source that shapes us and our surroundings. The Mississippi River stands as a prime example of this detachment. Often overlooked as a lifeless river, nothing more than the backdrop to our daily lives, its significance as the heart of America is underappreciated and misunderstood by many.
This thesis embarks on a journey to share the true reality that there is more to the mighty Mississippi than what initially meets the eye. First, this paper dives into the intricate history of the river and the forces that have shaped its current state. Next, this thesis examines the interactions between the river and Quapaw Canoe Company, a river outfitter whose unique engagement with the Lower Mississippi challenges conventional perceptions and fosters a deeper connection with its waters. Lastly, the final section of the paper describes the creative process in making a short film that accompanies my written thesis. By documenting the choices I made in creating this film as well as my experiences on the Mississippi River, this section illuminates how an intimate encounter with the river changes you.
My short film is aimed at taking people on a journey of their own, perhaps inspiring them to consider an adventure similar to the one they are watching. Truly, facilitating meaningful experiences on the river, and exposing people to the Mississippi’s true beauty and power in a way that is extraordinary, uncommon, and surprising is essential to helping people make a connection with it. Only then through genuine connection, can a sense of appreciation and stewardship be fostered. This thesis serves not only as a call to action but also a testament to the bond between us and the natural world. As we confront the realities of our home’s changing landscape, it is crucial that we rediscover the wild spirit of the Mississippi River and embrace our interconnectedness with her waters.
The River Journey
The Mississippi River is the lifeblood of our nation. The river is part of us, it flows through all of us. It courses through our veins. It sustains us. It connects us.
The Lower Mississippi specifically, is a special place- it’s wild, rambunctious, chaotic and turbulent… full of unknowns and extremes, and incredible flourishes of nature at her best.
Through 24 foot cypress canoes, Quapaw Canoe Company in the Delta region of Mississippi invites people into experiencing this raw, rich, and authentic Mississippi River. Canoeing is truly the most beautiful way of getting on the water, the quietest, the most efficient, the most elegant, and the closest you can get to the spirit of the water. Being as close to the water as possible, is imperative, as proximity is what makes the river come alive. While it is true that Quapaw Canoe Co. builds magnificent vessels for exploration and adventure on the water, more than anything, the company wants to advocate for people paying attention to the wildness around them. People are separated from the river, but John Ruskey, founder and owner of Quapaw, is in the business of reconnecting them.
John Ruskey and Mark River both understand the wild beauty of the Mississippi River and desire nothing more than for people to know it personally. At the beginning of his Quapaw undertaking, John Ruskey noticed that almost 1,000 miles of the river was unused. No one on the Lower Mississippi was engaging with her. Even people who did grow up in the South, close to her waters, never had an authentic and intimate encounter with her and never saw the other side of the levee.
For locals and for visitors alike who even wanted to see the river, and experience it, touch its currents and learn its ways, there was no one to guide them. Ruskey and River’s work invites people to understand that they have access to this great and mighty resource, and he provides a new proper introduction. When we know the river, we are more apt to take care of the river, thus enabling the river to in turn take care of us. Quapaw’s involvement with people locally from the Delta all the way to foreign visitors from across the globe, continues to make an impact on not only their lives and spheres of influence but also on the river itself.
Simply learning about the river or seeing it blur past in the car is not enough to truly move the heart and mind. Creating access and enabling people to have up close experiences, though, can change attitudes.
As much as we need reconnection to the Mississippi River, the river also needs us: the Lower Mississippi River, particularly, suffers from misunderstanding, as most people think of it as a drainage ditch or highway for commerce. Ruskey is excited about getting people to engage with the river so it doesn’t become over-industrialized in every part, and so we may protect her against even further environmental degradation. This is a place that needs to be protected and cared for. It’s a wilderness in the heart of the South. It’s one of the biggest rivers in the world and it flows through our backyard.
Quapaw Canoe Company’s mission ultimately is systemic health of the river and educating youth on the importance of protection and preservation of our national treasure for generations to come.
The best place to be in, is one of appreciation and deep awe and respect of the river’s power yet fragility. With all challenges currently presenting themselves to the river, John Ruskey and Mark River believe showing people what the river is really like, is the best method to change. After all, you don’t fight for something you don’t care about, and you don’t care about something you don’t know. Getting to know the river is our solution.
My Time on the Big River
While I learned much from my time spent with primary and secondary sources both online, in print, and in person, what impacted me most was my time actually on the river. I was fortunate enough to be a student videographer and traverse the river out in a canoe during Community Paddle with Quapaw. This adventure was an evolutionary journey of sorts and my ability to sit in peace and admire the river’s beauty exponentially increased.
I had the privilege to be up close and experience what the water felt like; not only to drift on the surface of, but to be submerged within. I could see the colors of the water and the vast islands with my own eyes, I could feel the mud between my own toes, I could witness the contrast of sounds between industry and stillness with my own ears, I could dip the paddle into the spiraling waters with my own hands. I let the waters seep deeper into my veins and impress themselves upon me. I allowed the sensory experience to bring me to new life. As John Ruskey called it: this was my baptism into her wild waters.
That opportunity to spend an afternoon on the Mississippi, I felt like I was a part of something bigger. It felt massive out there. I had never been in a space so vast in this part of the country, and it opened my eyes to think about how the river’s waters carry on for thousands and thousands of miles…to think I'd only seen a few breaths of it.
I found John Ruskey’s words to ring ever so true as he said “I’ve traveled all over North America and other parts of the world, but I’ve found closer spiritual and emotional interaction with what is the true feeling of wilderness here over the levee on this big river, this big wild river, than I’ve found anywhere else.”
I left a different version of myself after my time on the Mississippi River, and I hope this thesis will inspire dialogue and move others to think deeper about their life in relation to the river as well. I hope it will inspire people to appreciate and in turn, preserve this resource. All in all, the Mississippi River is always telling a story. We must consider how we can tune our ears, open our eyes, and expand our hearts to be able to learn its language. Only then, when we hear her cry and her call can we be moved to protect her and go to fight for her.