Experiencing stories and enjoying whiskey in a wooden structure drifting on the bayou
The little wooden houseboat, aptly named a shanty boat, embarked on its journey from the Red River, meandering its way to the Atchafalaya before delving into the bayous of southern Louisiana. This unique voyage is part of a project called "A Secret History of American River People," a quixotic pursuit of knowledge and escape.
Captain Wes Modes, the owner of the boat, moored it at a marina in Houma, Louisiana. During his stay, he engaged in conversations with locals, which often began with memories and rollicking tales but gradually shifted to reveal a simmering angst felt by people watching the place they knew best ebb away.
R.J. Molinere, who has ancestral ties to the native Houma people, was interviewed during the journey. Molinere, known for his history of hunting alligators, which led to his unlikely fame on the reality TV show "Swamp People," expressed concern that he may not have been helpful during the interview. Despite this, his connection to the Louisiana landscape remains strong, despite the changes around him.
Molinere, who was interviewed, expressed that he would never exaggerate the drama for the cameras to maintain respect for the alligators. The shanty boat moves at less than 10 mph, allowing for a leisurely pace that enables deep conversations and a close connection with the environment.
Adrian Nankivell has joined several of the shanty boat journeys and is traveling with Modes. The project, which involves recording interviews with about 175 people, touches on art, music, food, wildlife, work, and family histories. The boat's voyage has helped satisfy Modes' wanderlust, inspired by a book about the Kon-Tiki rafting expedition and Mark Twain's descriptions in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."
The environment in Louisiana is changing rapidly and disorientingly, with land disappearing as sea levels rise and water constantly encroaching. Hugh Paul Fanguy, 90, stepped aboard the boat and spoke about the land loss in his lifetime, which is roughly the size of Delaware. The population is also decreasing due to repeat storms driving the cost of insurance so high that many feel they have no choice but to leave.
The project has been shared through videos, blog entries, and a detailed catalog of interviews on the project's website. Wes Modes, the captain of the boat, will be starting a new job as an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati in the fall. The shanty boat journey continues, providing a unique insight into the lives and stories of the people of southern Louisiana.
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