Aabijijiwan / Ukeyat yanalleh, The Water Flows Continuously

For most of history our pathway into this world has been through the hands of midwives and doulas. In the 21st century, these positions might have affiliations with hospitals, but that is actually a quite recent development. Midwives often receive more medical training regarding pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period and doulas are more likely to be trained to provide you and your family with emotional, informational, and physical support during pregnancy, birth and the immediate postpartum period.

Each day while walking on my south bound backpacking journey I experienced profound encounters with a variety of creatures, trees and other humans. I was usually awake by 5:30 am and on the trail by 6:30. Most of my interactions happened in the early hours of my day.

The Driftless Region has had some form of human population for at least 12,000 years - since the retreat of the last glaciation, the Wisconsin. There is scant evidence for a previous population, but based on current findings elsewhere it is likely, and possible source material for another article. Archaeologists claim evidence of Paleo Indian (essentially their name for the oldest people’s discovered) dating back twelve millennium.The oldest evidence in the Upper Mississippi River Valley leads scientists to claim that bands (smaller groups of cooperating families) of hunters were moving two to three times per year and setting up small encampments. Spending summers on the rivers and winters deeper up into the many valleys, some over wintering in rock shelters throughout the area.

Walking through the front door of The Oak Center General Store is like stepping back in time. As you push the heavy, wood door open a bell rings, and your first steps are onto a creaky, wooden floor. A long mercantile counter runs the length of the room on one side, and the other side has an old wooden ice box filled with local sodas and assorted items that need to be kept cold.

Meanings about places emerge through the stories we tell. These stories may involve memorable experiences, iconic landmarks, or points of personal inspiration and awe. Over time, places and their stories change. Names change. Even at the foundational scale of geology, change is constant. The porous karst region of far southeastern Minnesota – with its 13,000 years of human history and precipitous bluffs of limestone, sandstone, clay and dolomite – offers one connecting thread: The Root River.

by James Travis Spartz

Gary’s tranquil property, surrounded on both sides by the river, had long been adored by family and friends alike.

Trish Johnson remembers her introduction to mindfulness techniques connected to sports.