Notes from Reservation River

In this “Jessay” from Ojibwe writer Jess Koski, we meet some of Jess’s favorite mitigoog– and how these tree relatives on the Grand Portage Reservation make an impact on the humans and other beings who live there.

In this episode of Notes from Reservation River, Grand Portage writer Jess Koski ponders the environmental philosophy of Bill McKibbon and our human interactions with the natural world, in an effort to reconcile his current battle with the flying squirrels, red squirrels and mice who have made a home in the roof of his garage.

In this episode of Notes from Reservation River Jess Koski expresses his skepticism about the name and signage for “Five Mile Rock,” a hunk of basalt anchored just east of Grand Marais, Minnesota. He delves into the conflict between perceived vs. actual distance, and even hops in his canoe, in an effort to uncover the true story of this local landmark.

Notes From Reservation River can be heard as a regular feature on North Shore Morning. Community Voices on WTIP are sponsored in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Jess Koski writes from Anishinaabe tribal lands at Chi Onigaming–Grand Portage. In this episode he speaks about what he calls “necessary noise” and the appreciation and preservation of dark skies, and quiet places. For additional inspiration, link to “The Push to Preserve Quiet,” featuring sound recordist Matt Mikkelsen.

Jess Koski is back home at Reservation River Road, and brings listeners on a walk/trot along the backroads of Grand Portage. It’s “leaf peeper” season and he and Geezhik (a.k.a Jessica) the doodle dog, encounter dusty conditions, big trucks, lots of tourists and the story of a moose that decided to jump the fence at the Grand Portage Bison Ranch.

Anishinaabe writer Jess Koski explains why Grand Portage and a number of other reservations are now issuing tribal license plates that raise awareness about the inordinately high percentage of missing and murdered Indigenous women in the U.S. and Canada. Jess recommends, “If you see something, say something.”

Grand Portage writer Jess Koski follows wolf tracks along a snow-covered reservation road, and has an encounter with a mystical PistenBully.

In this December dispatch, writer Jess Koski ruminates on the Ojibwe tradition of assigning descriptive moon names for each full moon. He proposes a few new names for the month of November, with help from his friend Erik Redix, Ojibwe Language Coordinator for the Grand Portage Band.

In this episode Grand Portage writer, runner and adventurer Jess Koski takes a new approach to categorize, measure and qualify his daily exercise and training regimen.

Grand Portage writer Jess Koski goes out into the world looking for his clan. Is it Ajijak, the Crane? He discovers that sometimes all you have to do is listen.

“So, what have you been up to?” Jess ponders where writing fits into the three types of fun, with type one being enjoyable, type two being less enjoyable and type three being occasionally dangerous and decidedly un-fun. “Notes From Reservation River” can be heard regularly on WTIP’s North Shore Morning.

Grand Portage writer Jess Koski tells us about the life and times of Hansi, (a.k.a. Pup D, Puppenhauser D, chnock Du, Buddy Boy or Mr. Handsome), his beloved golden-doodle, who Jess maintains was “the best dog in the world.” *Tissue alert!

Music clip by The Jayhawks, Take Me With You When You Go, from the album Hollywood Town Hall, c. 1992.

Grand Portage writer (and non-cold-water swimmer) Jess Koski ponders the size and scope of Lake Superior’s gifts, from humans to hummingbirds.

A retired English professor, Jess reflects on the circular nature of reading books, as it relates to life at Reservation River.

Writer Jess Koski reports from a community pow wow at Grand Portage, where he finds a steady drumbeat and a shift in his to-do list for the day.

Jess asks the question: What is living the good life–mino bimaadiziwin? A few of his neighbors share what living a good life means to them, in this late spring edition of “Notes from Reservation River.”

In this late-winter episode of Notes from Reservation River, Jess sets some personal goals ahead of the warm season, makes resolutions and breaks them, admits that beans are his favorite food and sets forth his intention to eat foods that are “closer to the earth.”

Writer Jess Koski shares his views on the gift of nibi (water) and how tribal treaty rights enter into the bigger conversations about land, hunting, gathering and water use in ceded territory.

Running the backroads of the Rez with Jess Koski. Plus, news about his next attempt at a 100 mile run!

Winter berry picking and the story of the Bear Berry tree, from the perspective of Grand Portage writer Jess Koski.

Travel the highways and byways with Jess Koski, from Big Bend to Reservation River Road and back again.

Notes from Reservation River, featuring “Jessays” by Grand Portage Band Member Jess Koski. In this segment, he revisits Minong– or Isle Royale, where his great grandfather “Hungry” Jack Scott, once fished and worked as a fish processor.

Jess visits Minong (Isle Royale) and ponders the ancient migration routes of Monarch butterflies.

Jess asks about the condition of birch trees on the Shore and explains what it means when a friend has a case of birch envy.

Jess ponders the history and cultural value of an old, iron pot.

In this segment, Jess returns home from an East Coast visit, avoiding a plane crash and following the migration route of the Lake Superior Anishinaabeg.

Writer Jess Koski is a Grand Portage tribal member and dispatches his “Jessays,” from his home on the shore of Lake Superior, in Chi Oni Gaming.

Writer Jess Koski is a Grand Portage tribal member and dispatches his “Jessays,” from his home on the shore of Lake Superior, in Chi Oni Gaming

Enjoy this edition of Notes from Reservation River  – “Well Worn Path”.

Writer Jess Koski is a Grand Portage tribal member and dispatches his “Jessays,” from his home on the shore of Lake Superior, in Chi Oni Gaming.
In this edition of Notes from Reservation River called “The Last Wave”, Jess remembers his uncle Gene.