By Mark “River” Peoples
Mighty Quapaw Youth Leader
1 Mississippi Southern Regional Intern
www.1mississippi.org
I awake on the Sunrise Bar with a layer of ice on the canopy of my tent with the Chickasaw Bluffs in the distance. We are one day into our Low Water Expedition from Osceola, AR, to Vicksburg, MS. The night was crisp and frigid but beautiful, with the sounds of owls, coyotes and raccoons continuing their nocturnal foraging well into the morning. I lay in my sleeping bag an extra five minutes before I make my dash to the warm fire surrounded by the Mighty Quapaws and friends. They laugh, knowing I’m not a fan of being cold. I’m dressed as if we’re in the heart of winter. The whole time I’m smiling, not wanting to be anywhere else, but patiently waiting for the sun to warm the cold air and to dry our tents before we continue on. The combination of the warm sun and the slightly colder water makes the Mississippi River look like a hot spring. I forget about the conditions and marvel at nature at its best, and I ask myself, “Why do I paddle?”
I paddle because I’m an explorer, humanitarian, and environmentalist — with the Mississippi River being my medium.
I paddle to create and build a sacred, intimate relationship with the River so I can change and destroy the myths that linger with its existence.
I paddle because the River is like life. It’s meandering and its forever-changing mood builds the character, discipline, and intestinal fortitude needed to handle life’s trials, tribulations and adversity.
I paddle for the constant changing of geological and geographical landscape settings that are so fleeting, they change daily.
I paddle to meet other “River Citizens” like myself, to share knowledge and information about our country’s most valuable resource and discuss strategies to create systemic health.
I paddle because it’s my new sport. I was raised a laborer, athlete and scholar. The River has given me new life. My body is recovering from all the collisions from football, reviving the necessary mental and physical health needed to practice my stewardship of this great River daily. Every time the Quapaws and I paddle it brings us closer as a team. The bond between my teammates becomes stronger. Our relationships, built on trust and honesty, flourish. I try and set an example for our team with every paddle stroke.
I paddle because I’m a metaphysical combination of the soul of my deceased mother, Iveara Peoples, who died when I was eleven years old, and the River. She taught me that life’s a gift. It’s not what you get in this life, it’s what you give. When she died, I associated hawks and eagles with my mother. So whenever the wind is in my face, the water feels heavy or the elements seem unbearable, the creator gives a sighting that soothes my soul. It lets me know she’s always with me. I recall camping between Beaver Island and the Port of St. Louis during the Circumnavigation of St. Louis, while the bright lights of the Jefferson Barracks Cemetery illuminated my tears of joy from across the Mississippi River. I was smiling, being able to spend the night that close to her. I knew physically she was there, but her soul was with me across the River. She lives through me.
In closing, I paddle because the River is my church, and it restores my soul. I know that every time I return from an expedition it changes perceptions of the people I encounter. I walk through town and people say, “You guys made it back.” I respond, “Yessir!”
They say, “I need to get out there.”
I think in my head, “That’s why I paddle!”
Find your paddle and become a River Citizen today.
– Mark River