The Last River Rat

Anyone that has seen the TV documentary "The Last River Rat" will be familiar with Kenny Salwey. This is the man that has earned that distinctive title by living with the land along the backwaters of the upper Mississippi River. If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing this Emmy award winning film there are also a pair of books he has written titled "The Last River Rat" and "Tales of a River Rat".

Kenny from the Documentary


Well, it turns out, Kenny has lived his life just a stone's throw from our place (just down the bluffs into the Mississippi Valley). In fact, his shacks are in the swamp across the river from "Bass Camp" or just downstream of Minneska. Anyway, I tell you all of this because he was the guest speaker at our local chapter of Trout Unlimited last night. He is a famed storyteller and that is what he did last night, but he also mixed in the messages he wanted to pass on to the audience throughout, mixed in with effortless ease. He captured the attention of the whole room and interacted with most everyone there. All in all, it was an awesome experience.

From the movie I had expected to see a tall, strong man but he isn't tall and now carries a long beard and is a little stooped. He moves quite slowly but when he talks to you his gaze is razor sharp, almost to the point of making one self-conscious. He listens very carefully to what is being said to him and takes his time before responding. When he does speak, it is very slowly in a deliberate and relaxed manner, almost as though he edits what he's about to say several times in his mind before he says it. At first, this is a little annoying but once you get into it he captures your attention and it's almost melodic, even soothing.

He spoke of his childhood, being born to French Canadian and Woodland Cree decendants in 1943 and living in the hill country of Buffalo county (Wisconsin) and how he wasn't the best student. Time caused him to regret not taking more interest in his education and how he continues to read anything he can get a hold of. His life was to eek out a living from back in the swamp, which he did for 28 years. He told of his dog and what it taught him and of the critters, and finally of a trout to be proud of. If anyone ever has the chance to hear or visit with Kenny I would say you'd be a fool not to because he has spent plenty of time contemplating a great many things that most of us overlook.

Kenny Salwey a few years ago


One thing that especially endeared him to me was when he mentioned how he arrived at the hall. He drove his old truck up from Minnieska, through Plainview and Eyota, down highway 14 and then turned off at the college. From there he was driven in by a member of the chapter because, as he said "the big city streets is no place for a rat". When driving in Rochester, Minnesota is too crazy, you are living a fantastic life! I hope to meet with him again some time, and if I do it will be a pleasure.