Michigan's Upper Peninsula is blessed with a treasure trove of storytellers, poets, and historians, all seeking to capture a sense of Yooper Life from settler's days to the far-flung future. Since 2017, theU.P. Reader offers a rich collection of their voices that embraces the U.P.'s natural beauty and way of life, along with a few surprises. The forty-five short works in this fourth annual volume take readers on U.P. road and boat trips from the Keweenaw to the Soo. Every page is rich with descriptions of the characters and culture that make the Upper Peninsula worth living in and writing about. U.P. writers span genres from humor to history and from science fiction to poetry. This issue also includes imaginative fiction from the Dandelion Cottage Short Story Award winners, honoring the amazing young writers enrolled in all of the U.P.'s schools. Featuring the words of Karen Dionne, Donna Winters, Tyler R. Tichelaar, Brandy Thomas, Jon Taylor, T. Kilgore Splake, Joni Scott, Donna Searight Simons, Terry Sanders, Ninie G. Syarikin, Becky Ross Michael, Cyndi Perkins, Charli Mills, Tricia Carr, Raymond Luczak, David Lehto, Tamara Lauder, Chris Kent, Sharon Kennedy, Jan Stafford Kellis, Rich Hill, Elizabeth Fust, Deborah K. Frontiera, Ann Dallman, Mikel B. Classen, T. Marie Bertineau, Larry Buege, Craig Brockman, Megan Sutherland, May Amelia Shapton, Cora Mueller, and Fenwood Tolonen. 'Funny, wise, or speculative, the essays, memoirs, and poems found in the pages of these profusely illustrated annuals are windows to the history, soul, and spirit of both the exceptional land and people found in Michigan's remarkable U.P. If you seek some great writing about the northernmost of the state's two peninsulas look around for copies of theU.P. Reader. --Tom Powers,Michigan in Books 'U.P. Reader offers a wonderful mix of storytelling, poetry, and Yooper culture. Here's to many future volumes!' --Sonny Longtine, author ofMurder in Michigan's Upper Peninsula 'As readers embark upon this storied landscape, they learn that the people of Michigan's Upper Peninsula offer a unique voice, a tribute to a timeless place too long silent.' --Sue Harrison, international bestselling author ofMother Earth Father Sky 'I was amazed by the variety of voices in this volume.U.P. Reader offers a little of everything, from short stories to nature poetry, fantasy to reality, Yooper lore to humor. I look forward to the next issue.' --Jackie Stark, editor,Marquette Monthly TheU.P. Reader is sponsored by the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association (UPPAA) a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation. A portion of proceeds from each copy sold will be donated to the UPPAA for its educational programming.
The Many Lives of Pierre LeBlanc (Based upon an old U.P. legend)
by Tyler R. Tichelaar
Life 1
Chief Shob-wa-wa watched the canoe approach the shore. The old Ojibwa had seen it from high atop the ridge overlooking the bay where he had his wigwam. The rest of his tribe preferred to live closer to the shore and thought it odd he would live up on the ridge, but he knew his view of the lake would keep his people safe from being surprised should the Sioux seek to attack them.
However, this canoe did not bear Sioux warriors. Despite his advanced age, Shob-wa-wa’s eyesight was as keen as an eagle’s, and he soon saw that his sister’s son was paddling the canoe. His sister had married into the Crane clan at Bahweting, the place the white men called Sault Saint Marie, and each spring Chief Shob-wa-wa traveled there with his clan to see her and fish the rapids. He recognized the other Ojibwa in the canoe also as men he had met at the rapids, but not the pale face in the middle of the canoe in a long black robe. He had seen other Black Robes at Bahweting, but never had one come to his bay. He had never spoken to a Black Robe, but he had heard good things of them from his relatives. More importantly, last night Nanabozho had sent him a dream, telling him a Black Robe would come, bearing great tidings of importance, so Shob-wa-wa knew this visit was a momentous event for his band.
As the canoe reached the shore, Shob-wa-wa rushed down the hill. By the time he arrived at the beach, the members of his band were gathered about the stranger. They were asking a great many questions of their cousins from Bahweting who had come with the Black Robe, but when they saw Shob-wa-wa coming, they quickly stepped aside and closed their lips out of respect for the old chief.
“Welcome,” said Shob-wa-wa in Ojibwa, expecting the men from Bahweting to translate it into the white man’s tongue for the stranger. Instead, Shob-wa-wa was surprised when the pale-faced Black Robe replied in Shob-wa-wa’s native tongue.
“Thank you. I am Pere Marquette, and I have come to bring your people good news of the Savior of mankind so that they might believe in him, be baptized, and gain eternal life.”
Shob-wa-wa bowed in acknowledgment of this kindness and then replied, “I am Shob-wa-wa, chief of these people, and your words make my heart glad for we have heard from our cousins of this savior and wish to learn more of him. You, his servant, are most welcome here.”
“And I,” continued Pere Marquette, “have likewise heard stories from your cousins of you, mighty Shob-wa-wa. You are a legend among your people for your intelligence and foresight. Even the white men have heard of you and are surprised you are not French like us because you are so wise.”
Shob-wa-wa did not know how to reply to this, for despite knowing that these French white men had great ships and guns and the firewater, he was not always sure how wise they were. But he knew Pere Marquette’s words were meant in kindness, so he said, “Let us be friends then and share our wisdom with one another.”
To this proposal, Pere Marquette readily agreed, and that night, he feasted with Shob-wa-wa’s people.
It is said that Pere Marquette stayed three weeks with Shob-wa-wa and his band. The Jesuit and the old chief spoke day and night about everything of any importance there was to know. Shob-wa-wa told Pere Marquette how his people had been led to the rapids, which the white men called Sault Sainte Marie, by a crane, and since then they had branched out all across this great peninsula between Anishinaabewi-gichigami and Ininwewi-gichigami. Shob-wa-wa also told Pere Marquette of the lore of his people, of Nanabozho and the creation of the world, and many another of their ancient stories. Then Pere Marquette told Shob-wa-wa of the Christian God who had created the world in seven days, and of how when man had fallen into sin, God had become a man, being born as his own son Jesus and dying so man’s sins would be forgiven. Shob-wa-wa was so taken with this story that he believed Jesus set a very good example for his people and he agreed to be baptized, and when Shob-wa-wa’s people saw how their leader loved the Black Robe and trusted in his teachings, they followed his example and were also baptized.
And then came the day when Pere Marquette said he must leave. “But remember, Shob-w
