Bushman

My Uncle John has time and time again proved to be an interesting and inspiring character. John is the real McCoy when it comes to being a bushman. First, my uncle spent his early years between Big River and the cabin on Little Island. Since he had a good childhood being raised on the island, he continued the tradition and raised his three daughters on the island. They were on the island almost all their pre-school years until they were old enough to attend school. Naturally, my uncle’s father got too old to take care of the island and left the island to his only son, my Uncle John. Since he has taken over the island, he has initiated several business ventures and has proved to be a jack-of-all-trades.

For example, he works as a millwright in a sawmill that he owns and operates which enables him to produce sheets of freshly milled lumber for several of the northern communities that used to build houses and anything else you would want to erect. Not only does he sell lumber, but he uses the same lumber to build several different projects like improving the docks on the island and the mainland. In the past, he has made a living by fishing many of the northern lakes and raising fish in his fish farm. At the same time, he was a hunter trying to feed his family and a trapper selling the furs to whoever would pay for hides. During all this he has managed to make time to grow and harvest wild rice for sale to the public.