SOUND OF OLD-TIME MODEM DIALING AND CONTINUING Cheering >> HEY, TWIN CIITES!

WELCOME TO TV TAKEOVER!

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING TONIGHT?!

HOW'S EVERYBODY OUT THERE?

CHEERING I'M ADIA MORRIS AND WE'RE THROWING A TV PARTY HERE LIVE IN THE TPT STUDIOS, CO-HOSTED BY THE FABULOUS WORKS PROGRESS STUDIO!

ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEM, PLEASE.

Applause IT'S ALL PART OF A BRAND-NEW PUBLIC TELEVISION EXPERIENCE.

WE'VE ASKED FIVE OF THE TWIN CITIES' MOST DARING AND INVENTIVE, CREATIVE FOLKS TO TAKE OVER OUR AIR AND DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WITH IT, AND FOR THE NEXT HOUR, WORKS PROGRESS IS GOING TO DO JUST THAT.

THE THEME OF TONIGHT'S EPISODE IS DEAR RIVER.

IT'S A COLLECTIVE LOVE LETTER TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THROUGH THE EYES OF ARTISTS, ECOLOGISTS, ACTIVISTS, FISHERMEN, POETS, AND YOU!

BE SURE TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH US ON TWITTER THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT USING THE HASHTAGS TV TAKEOVER AND DEAR RIVER AND YOU COULD SEE YOUR TWEETS POPPING UP ON-SCREEN THROUGHOUT THE BROADCAST!

WE HAVE TONS OF AMAZING THINGS GOING ON IN OUR STUDIO THAT WE'RE GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, INCLUDING A WATER TASTE-TESTING BAR.

DON'T GET CRAZY OVER THERE.

WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO LOSE IT.

AND AMAZING LIVE GUITAR MUSIC.

BUT BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, LET'S HEAR WHAT WORKS PROGRESS STUDIO IS ALL ABOUT.

INSTITUTE.

>> RECORDING.

>> YEP.

>> WORKS PROGRESS IS REALLY COLIN AND I.

>> WE CALL IT A MOM AND POP DESIGN SHOP.

>> SOMETIMES.

Laughter >> WE CREATE PROJECTS THAT ARE ABOUT INSPIRING AND INFORM AND CONNECTING PEOPLE TO IDEAS AND TO EACH OTHER.

>> PANT, YOU GETS A SENSE OF LIKE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>> SO WE ARE AT MINNEHAHA DOG PARK AND GOING TO BE TAKING US DOWN TO THE DOG PARK TO SHOW US ONE OF THE WAYS HE EXPERIENCES...

Audio Indiscernible >> WE DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, WE DO FILM AND VIDEO PROJECTS BECAUSE WE LIKE TO HELP TELL STORIES.

WE DO A LOT OF ORGANIZING PROJECTS BECAUSE WE REALLY LIKE TO HELP BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE HOW ARTISTS AND CREATIVE PEOPLE, THE DIFFERENT WAYS THEY SEE THE WORLD AND WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH A NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION, WORKING WITH PEOPLE AND WRITING STORIES OR AT AN EVENT, WE LIKE TO BE CONNECTORS AND WE LIKE TO BE CREATIVE ENABLERS.

Laughter >> ONE THING I'M REALLY PROUD OF IS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2010 FULL TIME, AND PEOPLE -- THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE ARTISTIC KIND OF ENTREPRENEUR AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD TO MAKE A LIVING DOING THIS STUFF, AND I'M JUST PROUD THAT WE'VE MADE IT THIS FAR.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES IN THE COUNTRY WHERE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THE KIND OF LIFE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD WOULD BE POSSIBLE.

IT'S REALLY BECAUSE OF THOSE CONNECTIONS THAT WE'VE MADE AND BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT FOR CREATIVE PEOPLE IN THE TWIN CITIES.

WE JOKE BUT IT'S KIND OF A CONSTANT HUSTLE OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEXT PROJECT IS GOING TO BE, AND AT THE SAME TIME WORKING WITH A REALLY AWESOME EVER-EXPANDING COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS AND CREATIVE PEOPLE, AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO KIND OF TAKE THE SAME LEAPS THAT WE TOOK.

CLEAR TECHNO-TYPE MUSIC Cheering >> HI, EVERYONE, WE ARE BACK HERE WITH SHANAI AND COLIN.

YOU CAN WHOO FOR THEM.

GOOD, ALL RIGHT.

TELL US ABOUT THE IDEA FOR THIS WEEK'S SHOW, WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR DEAF RIVER COME FROM.

>> I GREW UP IN A REALLY SMALL TOWN IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, CALLED PAL I SAID, WHICH IS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND IT WAS ALWAYS -- THE RIVER WAS ALWAYS THE PLACE THAT WAS BRINGING PEOPLE THROUGH WHO WERE MAKING THE JOURNEY AND DEAR RIVER IS ABOUT THAT IDEA, HOW DOES THE RIVER CONNECT US, HOW CAN WE CREATE A PROJECT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER ECOLOGISTS, SCIENTISTS, ACTIVISTS, ARTISTS, OTHER PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THE RIVER AND WRITE A COLLECTIVE LOVE LETTER.

>> I LOVE THIS IDEA, I DRIVE BY THE RIVER EVERY DAY.

YOU GUYS ARE KNOWN FOR CREATING AND CURATING PARTICIPATORY PUBLIC ART WORKS.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT PLANNED FOR US TONIGHT?

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STUDIO?

>> A LOT OF THINGS BUT ONE OF THOSE IS THAT, ON THAT THEME OF DEAR RIVER, PEOPLE HERE ARE WRITING LETTERS FOR THE RIVER, WE HAVE A STATION OVER THERE AND SOME PEOPLE WILL BE READING THEIR LETTERS LIVE ON SCREEN TONIGHT.

>> WHAT ELSE -- LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT A WATER BAR?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE A BAR THAT ALL WE HAVE IS WATER, TASTING TWIN CITIES TAPS, AND THAT IS -- WE'RE GOING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT.

ECO ORACLE, HAVE YOUR FORTUNE TOLD.

>> YOUR ECO FORTUNE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> VERY COOL.

I ALSO MAKE FILMS, I THINK WE SAW THAT IN THE INTRO SO TELL US ABOUT THE FIRST FILM.

>> SURE.

THE FIRST FILM IS WITH ARTIST AARON DYSART, AND HE SETS IT UP NICELY BECAUSE HE HE'S CONFRONTING THIS THING, THIS MASSIVE COMPLEX SYSTEM THAT IS THE RIVER FROM AN ARTISTIC STANDPOINT AND ALL ABOUT HIS QUESTIONING OF HOW DID HE DO THIS AS AN ARTIST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, LET'S WATCH THAT FILM THEN.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

SOFT MUSIC >> I GUESS THE FIRST TIME I REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT MY CONNECTION TO THE RIVER, I WAS WALKING MY DOG IN THE MISSISSIPPI DOG PARK IN MINNEHAHA HERE, AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING I READ EARLIER THAT DAY FROM CARL JUNGE'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT WALKING ALIGNING THE RHEIN TO GO TO SCHOOL, AND I THOUGHT THAT SOUNDS EXOTIC, I WISH I COULD HAVE THAT CHILDHOOD AND IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT, I REALIZED I WAS WALKING MY DOG ALONG THE THIRD LARGEST RIVER IN THE WORLD, BASICALLY MIRRORING THAT BUT NEVER REALLY REALIZING IT.

I GUESS THAT REALIZATION, THAT THE EXOTIC WAS RIGHT WHERE I WAS AT, IT WASN'T SOMETHING KIND OF DISTANCED OR, YOU KNOW, IMAGINARY, THAT IT WAS JUST RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, THAT I HAD TO STOP KIND OF THINKING ABSTRACTLY ABOUT SOMETHING AND ACTUALLY KIND OF DEALING WITH IT AS A REAL ENTITY.

>> I HAD THIS PROJECT FOR WHEN I WENT ON WALKS WITH SCIENTISTS ALONG THE RIVER, AND OF COURSE YOU COULD WALK ALONG IT BUT THEN AGAIN, IT MADE MORE SENSE TO ACTUALLY BE IN THE RIVER.

WHAT I FOUND OUT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO EVEN TOUCH THE WATER, NOT EVEN JUST SWIM IN IT BUT THERE'S THIS FEAR THAT THE WATER IS DIRTY, IT'S SOMEHOW UNSAFE, AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW, WHETHER IT'S POLLUTED CHEMICALLY, IF THERE'S SOME SORT OF BIOLOGICAL PROBLEM BUT IT END UP BEING THIS NOTION THAT IT'S JUST DIRTY, AND IT'S VIEWED AS DIRTY, WHICH LED TO THE PROJECT WHERE I MADE A ROWBOAT OUT OF SOAP.

FAINT VOICES IN THE BACKGROUND >> IN AN EFFORT TO KIND OF MAKE THIS VEHICLE THAT WOULD CLEAN THE WATER AS IT MOVED, AND OF COURSE IT'S NOT CLEANING THE WATER OR ANYTHING, IT'S POLLUTING IT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE AND TRYING TO REFERENCE THIS IDEA THAT IF WE DON'T KNOW HOW SOMETHING IS DIRTY, WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO CLEAN IT.

IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT MAKES IT DIRTY, THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN FIX IT, NOR DOES IT NECESSARILY NEED TO BE FIXED IN THE WAY WE THINK IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

>> I STARTED TO FOCUS ON THIS IDEA OF COMPLEXITY WHEN I STARTED TO DEVELOP BIGGER PROJECTS FOR THE RIVER, BUT I STARTED TO REALIZE THEY WERE TOO BIG, THAT FOR A PROJECT AS COMPLEX AS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO THINK ABOUT, I NEEDED OTHER PEOPLE.

THAT MY NOTION AS AN INDIVIDUAL ARTIST WORKING ALONE IN A STUDIO REALLY WASN'T CORRECT ANYMORE.

I NEEDED TO HAVE A TEAM WORK OR COLLABORATION.

PARALLEL TO THIS, I STARTED TO REALIZE THAT THE RIVER WASN'T JUST A LINE IN THE LANDSCAPE.

THAT IT INVOLVED THE TRIBUTARIES, THE WETLANDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AROUND.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A DESIRE FOR THINGS TO BE SIMPLE BUT, YET, THEY'RE REALLY COMPLEX AND CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

IN THE END, THOUGH, I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HOLD ON TO SOMETHING THAT CONSTANTLY MOVES.

HOW DO WE ACTUALLY LEARN TO LIVE WITH SOMETHING THAT IS -- DEFIES OUR EXPECTATIONS?

Cheering >> DEAR RIVER, THANK YOU FOR THE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP THIS PAST WEEK.

TOMORROW I BEGIN A JOURNEY FROM HOME TO HOME.

SOON I HOPE TO BE ON THE BANKS OF THE NILE RIVER, I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

>> DEAR RIVER, THANK YOU FOR THE DIVERSION.

MOVING EAST-WEST, I HAVE TO TAKE YOU INTO ACCOUNT.

HOW STEEP, HOW WIDE, WHICH VIEW, WHERE WILL YOU LET ME OUT?

DEAR RIVER, I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO GET OVER YOU.

Applause >> REMEMBER, YOU CAN TWEET YOUR OWN LETTERS TO THE RIVER USING HASHTAG TV TAKEOVER AND DEAR RIVER!

WELL, TONIGHT, WORKS PROGRESS AND COLLABORATORS ARE OPENING WATER BAR, A BAR THAT SERVES LOCAL TAP WATERS AND IS STAFFED BY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS AND OTHER WATER RESOURCE EXPERTS.

LET'S CHECK IT OUT!

SO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

I'M HERE WITH DR. TERRY JENNINGS, BY THE WAY, I SHOULD INTRODUCE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, WHAT DO WE HAVE ON TAP?

>> TONIGHT WE HAVE SEVEN LOCAL TAPS, A VARIETY OF SOURCES.

THERE'S QUITE A FEW DIFFERENCES THAT PEOPLE ARE NOTING IN THESE WATERS.

>> YEAH, ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES, WHAT DO THEY SAY?

>> WELL, SOME OF THESE ARE TREATED SURFACE WATER SOURCES, MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL ARE TWO OF THE MORE NOTABLE ONES.

SOME TIME WANT TO DO KIND OF A DUELING BATHS OF THE TWO CITIES WATERS.

WE HAVE SOME BEDROCK SOURCES, SHAKOPEE AND CHAMPLIN HAVE SOME DEEPER UNITS.

THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKING THE MAPLE GROVE, A BLEND OF A DEEP BEDROCK SOURCE WITH A GLACIAL SOURCE.

Laughter ALSO IS A VERY LOW PRICE-POINT WATER.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT IS PER THOUSAND GALLONS, IT IS THE CHEAPEST ONE ON THE TABLE HERE.

I WAS GOING TO PREPARE YOU A FLIGHT, WOULD YOU LIKE A FLIGHT?

>> YEAH, I'LL START WITH THE MAPLE GROVE ONE.

>> I'LL START WITH THE MAPLE GROVE.

Laughter >> I WOULD LOVE TO TASTE THE St. PAUL AND THE CHAMPLIN.

>> St. PAUL, THIS IS THE ONLY LAKE WATER SOURCE MIXED WITH MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND SOME GROUND WATER.

>> OKAY.

I'M SCARED BUT OKAY.

>> WELL, IT'S STATE-OF-THE-ART FILTRATION.

>> IT IS REALLY GOOD.

IT DOESN'T TASTE LIKE ANYTHING WHICH I GUESS MEANS IT'S -- Laughter >> A LOT OF PEOPLE PREFER THAT, AND ONE WITH MORE BODY MIGHT BE -- THE St. ANTHONY IS AN INTERESTING STORY.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO TASTE THAT ONE.

>> WAS A CONTAMINATED AQUIFER THAT THE ARMY IS NOW TREATING FOR FREE.

>> CONTAMINATED AQUIFER.

>> BUT IT'S COMPLETELY SAFE TO DRINK NOW, THEY'RE MAKING IT SO WE CAN USE IT AGAIN.

>> DOING IT ON LIVE TV.

NOT BAD.

NOT BAD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> LET'S WATCH A COUPLE OF VIDEOS NOW ABOUT LIFE ON AND IN THE MISSISSIPPI.

FIRST WE'LL MEET SOME TALKING MUSSELS AND THEN HEAR THE STORY OF A BELOVED BAIT SHOP ON THE EAST SIDE OF St. PAUL.

SOUND OF CRICKETS WATER BUBBLING SOUND OF WATER >> DEAR URBAN FLUSHERS AND THINGS, FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HANDING ME BACK MY HOME.

IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A CENTURY SINCE YOU CHOKED OUT ALL MY KIN AND FISH.

I REST THERE AMID THEIR BONES BUT ABLE TO GET A MEAL OF DECENT-TASTING RIVER DRIFT.

ALTHOUGH YOU FINALLY REALIZED THAT NUBBING EVERYTHING YOU DIDN'T WANT IN THE HOME KILLED MOST OF US RIVER DWELLERS, IT TOOK YOU 50 YEARS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

STILL, AFTER A STRONG REIGN IN THE CITY, I HAVE TO CLAM UP TO AVOID THE TASTE OF DOOLING PAO AND CAT -- AND AWFUL TASTE OF HUMANITY AND IN THE SPRING, THE SNOW MELT GIVES ME EVERYTHING FROM THE RURAL COUSINS A CROPS AND FEEDLOTS, BUT NOT AS BAD AS IT USED TO BE OR I WOULDN'T BE HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT.

TODAY MY FISHY BUDDY ARE PLENTIFUL.

FOR ME, AT LEAST, IT'S A GOOD THING THAT MOST OF YOU DON'T CARE TO EAT THE CONTAMINATED FISH YOU CATCH, RELEASING THEM TO FINISH THE JOB OF CARRYING MY LITTLE BABIES OFF TO NEW HOMES IN THE RIVER COMPLETES MY ANNUAL MISSION.

MEANWHILE, WE FILTER FEEDERS TRANSFORM THE RIVER DRIFT INTO BEAUTIFUL MAMMAL TISSUE AND MORE MUST SELL BABIES UP THE RIVER.

AS MY SOME OFSPRING BUILD IN NUMBERS, MORE WATER IS FILTERED, SEWNLIGHT REACHES DEEPER.

ALGAE OF MANY KINDS GROW AND THE LITTLE FISH THAT BUGS LOVE -- LITTLE BUGS THAT FISH LOVE TO EAT COME TO GRAZE ON OUR GARDENS, AND WE CAN MAKE MORE MUSSELS.

ON AND ON IT WILL GO SO LONG AS YOU PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU PUT IN THE RIVER.

I DO HAVE SOME COMPLAINTS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF YOU ARE DEPRESSED.

DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO PUT YOUR USED UP PROZAC IN THE RIVER?

WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY AS CLAMS ALREADY BUT THIS CONFUSES US.

>> WE'RE SENSITIVE LITTLE SENTINELS, IF YOU PUT TOO MUCH OF THESE THINGS IN, YOU'LL KNOW.

YOU'LL KNOW IF YOU PAY ATTENTION, THAT IS.

ARE WE REPLENISH INC. OUR NUMBERS, GROWING NORMALLY?

ARE WE EVEN STILL ALIVE DOWN HERE?

WE CAN TELL YOU A LOT ABOUT HOW THE RIVER IS DOING IF YOU PAY ATTENTION.

REMEMBER, RIVER COMMUNITIES ARE LIKE THE PRAIRIE PLANT COMMUNITIES, THE MORE SPECIES THAT CAN LIVE IN THE RIVER, THE BETTER, AND THE MORE OF US ON DUTY DOWN HERE, THE CLEANER WE MAKE THE WATER.

AND THE MORE SUPPORT WE CAN GIVE TO THE DEN I ZENS WHO MAKE UP THE FOOD CHAIN AND THAT SUPPORTS THE FISH WE WANT TO HAVE IN THE RIVER.

SINCERELY, MIKEY THE MUST SELL.

>> ALL WALKS OF PEOPLE SO SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY FISH FOR -- SO THEY CAN HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN EAT THE FOOD AND SOME PEOPLE JUST DO IT FOR RECREATION, FOR FUN.

BUT AS A HUMAN BEING, I FEEL IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR US TO LEARN HOW TO CATCH OUR OWN FISH.

>> HI, MY NAME IS... A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL ME T BECAUSE MY NAME IS REAL LONG.

I'VE BEEN IN KATHY'S BUSINESS FOR FIVE YEARS, GOING TO BE SIX.

ACTUALLY, I COME FROM LAOS, DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, WE WERE ON AMERICAN SIDE.

IT WAS NOT A SUCCESSFUL WAR FOR US SO WE HAVE TO ABANDON THE COUNTRY AND COME TO THIS COUNTRY.

KATHY'S BAIT SHOP WAS BECAUSE I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT'S NAMED KATHY.

SHE TOLD ME THAT, DAD, LOOKS LIKE ALL THE BOYS AND THE MEN ARE FISHING BUT THE GIRLS ARE BEHIND SO SHE SAY, WHY DON'T WE NAME THIS KATHY SO IT'S MORE FOR THE WOMEN AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL COME IN AND START FISHING.

RICHARD GIMPLE IS THE ONE WHO STARTED THE BUILDING HERE.

USED TO BE A SMALLER SHOVE BUT HE TURNED IT INTO A BIGGER ONE, BACK IN 1960.

WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM THE FELLOW, THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT ONES IN FIVE YEARS' TIME.

SEE, THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A FORTUNE AND NOT HAVE TO WORK FOR IT.

AND THEY FIND OUT, THIS IS A SEVEN-DAY JOB AND IN THE SUMMERTIME, 12, 15 HOURS A DAY.

>> RICHARD'S BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME AND I KIND OF LIKE, WHEN YOU'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS LONG TIME, WHEN YOU RETIRE, YOU KIND OF TEACH SOMEBODY NEW, A NEW IMMIGRANT LIKE ME.

>> HAD FOUR OWNERS IN HERE SINCE I RETIRED.

HE'S THE LONGEST ONE IN HERE, TOO, OF ANYBODY.

OTHER THAN ME.

Audio Indiscernible >> HE MAKES SURE THAT HE TREATS CUSTOMERS RIGHT, AND HE'S FAIR, WHEN IT COMES TO HIS BAIT AND STUFF, YOU KNOW.

>> COMING HERE A WHILE NOW.

HIT THE RIVER, THERE'S SOME FISH WE CAN'T CATCH, WE RELEASE THEM.

SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE >> THE LANGUAGE BARRIER, HE COME HERE, BECAUSE I SPEAK HMONG.

A LOT OF NEWCOMERS THAT PASS FOUR, FIVE YEARS AND THOSE NEWCOMERS ARE A LITTLE BIT -- TO ADJUST TO THIS COUNTRY AND RULE AND REGULATION.

THEY COME HERE, I TEACH THEM, THIS COUNTRY, WHEN YOU GO FISHING, THERE IS A LIMIT, THAT'S 100 PEOPLE AND EACH OF US TAKES 10 FISH, THAT'S A THOUSAND FISH ALREADY.

AND ALSO WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WHEN WE GO FISHING OR WHEN WE GO HUNTING, WE HAVE TO THINK OF FUTURE GENERATION, TOO.

I LIKE FISHING A LOT SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY GRANDKID AND MY SON AND MY GREAT-GREAT-GRANDKIDS ARE ABLE TO GO TO THE RIVER AND FISH.

THE NEW IMMIGRANT MIGHT COME HERE AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME BUYING A FISHING LICENSE OR THEIR FIRST TIME GOING OUT FISHING.

I HAVE TO TEACH THEM HOW TO USE THE FISHING POLE BECAUSE IN OUR COUNTRY, WE JUST TIE THE STRING TO A POLE AND DROP ON THE RIVER OR THE LAKE AND PUT A FISH -- BUT HERE IT'S DIFFERENT, YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO CAST A FISHING POLE, REEL IT IN AND I SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU LEARN FROM ME HERE, YOU CAN PASS ON TO YOUR OTHER PEOPLE, TOO, BECAUSE WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.

I SAY, YOU LIVE HERE, THIS IS PART OF YOUR LAND, PART OF YOUR FAMILY.

YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO RESPECT EVERYBODY.

>> I'M ABOUT TO HAVE MY ECOLOGICAL MYSTERIES REVEALED BY AN ECO-ORACLE.

ARTIST CHRISTINE BAEUMLER CREATED THIS PROJECT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WEISMAN ART MUSEUM.

LET'S SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS!

ALL RIGHT.

WHAT DO I DO?

>> ALL RIGHT.

AUDIO.

WELL, THESE IMAGES ARE IMAGES FROM THE WISE MAN'S ART MUSEUM'S COLLECTION AND THEY'RE BASED ON SUSTAINABLE PRINCIPLES FOR YOURSELF AND FOR THE RIVER.

>> I LOVE THAT.

>> SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO IS GIVE THESE A LITTLE SHUFFLE AND MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR ENERGY ON THOSE CARDS.

>> REALLY BAD AT SHUFFLING.

>> GIVE THEM A GOOD TAP.

AND PICK THE TOP ONE AND TURN IT OVER.

>> OKAY.

>> OH, AND WHAT WE SEE IS THAT YOU CAN ADOPT AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE TOWARD THE RIVER AND FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

>> OH, I LOVE THAT.

I ALREADY DO SO -- >> CLEARLY SEE THAT.

JUST KEEP DOING IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER LETTER TO THE MISSISSIPPI.

SHOULD I TAKE ANOTHER ONE?

SOUND OF WATER RUSHING >> THO I DESTROYED MY BODY DOING IT, THERE IS A DANCE WE ALL DO AS WE WORK, THESE LABOR AND HAND, ARMS, LEGS, BACK AND BRAIN, AS I SQUAT AND STAND, PICKING UP AND CARRYING MY BURDEN OF RACQUETS AND WIRES OF SHACKLES AND STRAPS, OF CHAIN LINKS AND LEAVING LINE.

THERE IS A DOWN-RIVER DANCE FROM SAVAGE TO PIG'S EYE.

AN UP-RIVER DANCE TO BARGES BETWEEN THE BRIDGES AND THE St. PAUL HARBOR.

TOSSING LINES AND SNATCHING RATCHETS AS WE DESTROY OUR BODY UNDER OUR BURDEN.

SACREDNESS AND RESPECT IN OUR MOVEMENTS, UNCONSCIOUS TRANSIT OF DEATH RITUAL.

GIVING BACK OF OURSELVES, SMOKING CIGARETTES AND TELLING LIES IN THE WHEELHOUSE.

OUR RIVER TALK AND ARGUING, EMBRACING PERFECTLY THE PHYSICALITY OF DEATH.

>> I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN WITH COLIN OF WORKS PROGRESS, AND LARRY ROGACKI, PLANT MANAGER AT THE METORPOLITAN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

THAT'S A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE TITLE.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FLUSH, AND COLIN AND LARRY ARE GOING TO ADD SOME LIVE COMMENTARY.

SPOILER ALERT: THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER MAKES A CAMEO.

SOUND OF WATER RUSHING >> HERE WE ARE IN THE PRETREATMENT BUILDING.

THIS WAS THE FIRST POINTS OF CONTACT AT THE PLANT AND ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES WHERE IT'S REALLY OBVIOUS TO THE NAKED EYE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THE SCREENS THAT YOU JUST SAW ARE TAKING ANYTHING LARGER THAN A HALF-INCH OUT OF THE WASTE WATER, AND, LARRY, I WOULD LOVE YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT OF THE STRANGEST THINGS THAT YOU'VE PULLED OUT OF THE WASTE WATER ARE.

>> WE FOUND ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE.

DIAMOND RINGS, AUTOMOBILE TIRES, HUNDRED-DOLLAR BILLS, BALANCES OF FAT AS BIG AS A BOWLING BALANCE.

U-DID YOU SAY FAT?

>> FAT.

>> FAT FROM WHAT?

>> RESTAURANTS, KITCHENS.

THEN AFTER THAT, THERE IS WHERE THE SAND IS TAKEN OUT AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

>> WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT NOW?

IS THIS STILL THE GRIT REMOVAL PART?

>> STILL GRIT REMOVAL, YES.

>> WHAT HAPPENS TO THE GRIT WHEN IT'S TAKEN AWAY?

>> EVENTUALLY DISPOSED OF IN A LANDFILL.

>> THIS SCENE RIGHT HERE I WANTED TO INCLUDE BECAUSE IT SHOWS JUST HOW SLOW SOME OF THE PROCESSES ARE AT THE PLANT.

I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN THE IDEA OF SLOW TV, IN AUTHOR WAY THERE'S A TREND WHERE THEY PLAY HOURS AND HOURS OF SOMETHING, A BOAT CRUISE, 134 DAYS OF LIVE TV AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A 15-HOUR FILM BASED ON THIS PLANT TO SEE THAT WHOLE PROCESS.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WOULD WATCH THAT.

MAY BE IN NORWAY.

>> YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY, THAT WOULD BE A NEILSON HIT IN NORWAY.

>> SO WHAT WE DO IN PRIMARY TREATMENT IS WE USE GRAVITY.

GRAVITY IS CHEAP.

SOME MATERIALS FLOAT TO THE TOP, SOME SETTLE TO THE BOTTOM, AND VERY SLOWLY WE REMOVE IT.

>> SO I SEE THE CENTER FINAL, IT JUST WHIPS IT AROUND OR WHAT HAPPENS?

>> THIS ROOM IS THE CENTRIFUGE ROOM AND I LOVE THE SOUND IN HERE AND, LARRY, YOU CAN TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> SURE, THE CENTRIFUGE STRAIGHTS SOLIDS FROM WATER AND SPINS WHERE, VERY RAPIDLY, LIKE YOUR CLOTHES DO IN A WASHING MACHINE TO GET THEM DRIED, AND THE SOLIDS THAT COME OUT GO INTO THE SKHSTWING PUMP AND PUMP THEM OVER TO THE REACTOR.

>> YOU'LL SEE CAKE, IF YOU'RE JUST TUNING IN, THIS IS NOT A CAKE FACTORY, THIS IS A WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

Laughter >> THESE ARE SOME REACTORS THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE.

THE CAKE PUMPS ARE PUMPING THEM INTO THE SOLID BED REACTORS.

SO THE METRO PLANT USES WHAT ARE CALLED FLUIDIZED BED REACTORS SO THE SOLID THAT WE RECOVER ARE BURNED, GENERATE STEAM AND THEN WE CAN HEAT OUR BUILDINGS OR WE GENERATE ELECTRICITY.

WE CAN GENERATE ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE ELECTRICAL POWER THE PLANT NEED.

>> A QUARTER OF THE POWER THE PLANT NEEDS.

SO HOW MANY OTHER BUSINESSES AND WHATNOT ARE SUPPLIED THROUGH THAT STEAM POWER?

>> JUST THE PLANT.

>> SO THERE'S NO EXTRA.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> OKAY.

>> SO THIS ROOM, THE SOLID BED REACTOR ROOM IS JUST MASSIVE AND I REALLY WANTED TO SHOW JUST HOW BIG THAT WAS AND IT KIND OF TOOK MY BREATH AWAY THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT.

LARRY, MAYBE YOU COULD LONGER SCENE HERE, MAYBE YOU COULD TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RIVER BEFORE THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND WHEN IT STARTED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> SO THE PLANT STARTED IN 1938.

BEFORE THAT, THE MISSISSIPPI -- SEWAGE WOULD RUN RIGHT INTO THE RIVERS, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS WOULD RUN IN THE RIVERS, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THROUGH DOWNTOWN WAS NOTHING BUT SLUDGE DEPOSITS, THEY WERE SEPTIC, ODOR ROUSE, NOBODY WANTED TO BE BY THE RIVER AND IN THE LATE 1920s, THEY DID A FISH SURVEY FROM St. PAUL TO HASTINGS AND ONLY FOUND THREE FISH.

>> WOW.

>> IT WAS A DEAD ZONE.

>> YEAH.

WOW.

AND IS THIS STILL THE SAME ROOM?

>> UH-HUH.

AND BECAUSE OF THOSE RIVER CONDITIONS, THE LEADERS OF MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL GOT TOGETHER AND THEY DECIDED MAYBE WHAT WE NEED IS A TREATMENT PLANT.

>> WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> SO HERE WE ARE IN THE PLANT'S MAINTENANCE FACILITY.

>> THERE ARE ABOUT 300 PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE PLANT.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, WATER FLOWS ALL THE TIME, IT NEVER STOPS SO THE PEOPLE WORK 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR FOR 76 YEARS CONTINUOUS.

>> WOW.

THAT WAS DOUG, PEGGY AND MIKE, AND THIS IS LULU, HE'S WORKING ON SOME PIPE HERE.

>> DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THEY EACH HAVE BEEN WORKING THERE?

>> YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN 25-YEAR EMPLOYEES, SO...

Audio Indiscernible >> THAT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

>> THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS.

SO THE PLANT IS MASSIVE, HOW BIG?

>> 200 ACRES, OVER 200 ACRES.

>> LIKE ANY GOOD MINNESOTA INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S ALL CONNECTED THROUGH SUSPEND GROUND TUNNELS SO WE GOT ON TO THESE CARTS THAT ARE USED TO GET AROUND THE DIFFERENT FACILITIES, AND SO THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF FOOTAGE OF WHAT THAT IS LIKE, TO GIVE YOU A SCALE OF ALL OF THESE TUNNELS SUSPEND GROUND.

>> FORGIVE ME BUT I THINK OF AUSTIN POWERS WHEN I THINK OF THOSE LITTLE CARS.

>> I'VE DONE THAT MYSELF.

Laughter SO THIS IS THE COMPRESSOR ROOM AND OXYGEN PLAYS A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND SO TO USE IT, THEY HAVE TO COMPRESS THE OXYGEN AND PUMP IT INTO THESE TANKS AND, LARRY, I REALLY LOVE THIS BECAUSE THE PLANT USES ALL THESE NATURAL PROCESSES AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE.

>> THIS IS A KEY ONE.

SO BESIDES GRAVITY, WE USE BIOLOGY, MICRO-ORGANISMS, BACTERIA TO BREAK DOWN WASTE.

SO WHAT TO US IS A WASTE IS A FOOD TO A BACTERIA.

THOSE BACTERIA NEED OXYGEN TO LIVE AND JUST LIKE IN AN AQUARIUM WHERE YOU HAVE TO BUBBLE AIR THROUGH, WE BUBBLE AIR THROUGH VATS, 5-MILLION-GALLON TANKS, 16 OF THOSE TANKS AND THE BACTERIA ARE REALLY WHAT BREAK DOWN MOST OF THE WASTE PRODUCTS.

>> SO KIND OF LIKE FARM BACTERIA, ALWAYS MAKING SURE THE RIGHT BACTERIA ARE READY TO GO AND WORK FOR YOU.

>> FOR THE PROCESS TO WORK, IF WE KEEP THE BACTERIA HAPPY, EVERYTHING WORKS.

SO THESE ARE THOSE LITTLE DIFFUSERS, THAT'S HOW THE BUBBLE, THE AIR IS INJECTED INTO THE LIQUID.

THAT'S A MIXTURE OF WASTE WATER AND BACTERIA, ALL BREAKING DOWN.

>> IS THAT SOLID?

>> THAT'S FLOATING SCUM ON TOP.

>> GOT IT.

YUM.

Laughter >> AGAIN, THE SCALE OF THIS PLACE.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THIS IS THE LABORATORY.

AND THERE'S THIS CONTAINER THAT AMY HERE IS SHAKING, AND I LOVE THE SHAPE OF THIS CONTAINER AND WE WERE THINKING WATER BAR, WE NEED SOME OF THESE CONTAINERS, HOW CAN WE GET THESE?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE CALLED?

>> SOME TYPE OF FLASK.

>> WHAT HAPPENS -- SORRY, WHAT HAPPENS -- >> THIS IS MALLORY, SHE'S COUNTING AMEAN BAS.

>> BECAUSE WE CAN'T SEE BACTERIA BUT WE CAN SEE THE PROPERTY DO ANNS AND AMOEBAS THAT FEED ON BACTERIA, IT TELLS US HOW THE BACTERIA ARE CHANGING.

>> THESE ARE THE FINAL SETTLING TANKS, AND YOU'LL SEE HOW CLEAR THE WATER IS AT THIS POINT.

SO THIS IS AFT BACTERIA HAS REALLY DONE ITS WORK.

THE SOUND THAT THIS WATER MAKES, HOW CLEAR IT IS, RUNNING OVER THESE TANKS.

WHAT ARE THESE TANKS AND WHAT THE PROCESS HERE?

>> SO AFTER THE BACTERIA HAD BROKEN DOWN THE MATERIAL, WE SEPARATE THE MATERIAL FROM THE WATER.

THE WATER CAN CONTINUE ON FOR LAST STAGE OF TREATMENT.

THE BACTERIA IS RETURNED BACK TO THE PROCESS.

>> WHAT'S HE DOING RIGHT NOW?

>> HE'S SAMPLING THE WATER AFTER TREATMENT.

>> OKAY.

>> SO THIS IS THE WATER AS IT STARTS TO MAKE IT WAY OUT TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANTED TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAME TO THE PLANT TO MAKE A FILM ABOUT THIS PROCESS.

TO ME IT WAS JUST A FASCINATING, COMPLEX, ORGANIC, KIND OF NATURAL THING THAT HAPPENS, BUT OVER THE TIME, THE THREE DAYS THAT I SPENT SHOOTING THERE, ONE THING THAT I REALLY SAW THAT BECAME APPARENT TO ME IS THAT THE PEOPLE ARE WHAT MAKE THE PROCESS HAPPEN, AND THAT REALLY IT'S A SYSTEM FOR CARING AND IT'S SOMETHING I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN EXPLORING FURTHER, IS HOW DOES A PLANT LIKE THIS THAT CARES FOR OUR WATER, HOW IS IT A SYSTEM THAT CARES FOR THE PEOPLE OF THESE CITIES BUT ALSO FOR THE RIVER ITSELF.

>> LARRY, THIS IS SOMETHING I KNOW THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK HERE THINK A LOT ABOUT.

>> RIGHT, EVERY EMPLOYEE AT THAT PLANT KNOWS THAT THEIR WORK DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF THE WATER.

>> YEAH, VERY COOL.

Applause >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, GUYS, THAT WAS AMAZING.

I LEARNED QUITE A BIT ABOUT HOW THE WATER GOES.

SO, NOW, ANOTHER LETTER TO THE RIVER.

>> CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI AND I THOUGHT WHY?

AND NOW THE 42nd AVENUE BRIDGE IS A FAVORITE SPOT FOR WATER GAZER AND OFFERING FOR GRATITUDE OF MELLONS, EGGS AND LIQUOR ON FULL MOON NIGHTS.

I PRAY TO AFRICAN WATER GODDESSES...

SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE GIVER OF GOOD THINGS THAT FLOW FROM AND TO YOU.

I LOVE YOU, MOMMA MISSISSIPPI.

Applause >> I'VE GOT ARTISTS MOLLY BALCOM-RALEIGH, JANAKI RANPURA, AND SHANAI FROM WORKS PROGRESS HERE.

THEY'RE ALL PART OF A PROGRAM CALLED CITY ART COLLABORATORY, AND ONE OF THE PROJECTS THEY'VE BEEN RESEARCHING INVOLVES INVASIVE CARP.

WOW.

Laughter SO INVASIVE CARP ARE MOSTLY KNOWN FOR JUMPING OUT OF THE RIVER AND FOR THEIR REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS.

THIS VIDEO THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO SHOW IS PART OF A LARGER PROJECT THAT'S CALLED 10,000 WAYS TO EAT A CARP.

>> OUR PROJECT SHOWS HOW CARP HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION ACROSS THE GLOBE EMBODY OUR IDEA ABOUT NATURE.

10,000 WAYS TO FEED A CARP WILL EVENTUALLY BE A SPECTACLE CENTERED AROUND... Laughter A GIANT PUBLIC CARP FRY.

Laughter >> OH-OH.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND VERY GOOD FOR THE CARP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO WE ARE -- LET'S WATCH THE VIDEO HERE THAT TALKS MORE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT.

>> LET'S GO TO THAT VIDEO.

WHAT DOES IT MATTER IF RAIN COMES OUR WAY AND RAINDROPS... A HAPPY ENDING IS WAITING FOR YOU >> OH, MY GOD!

Laughter WE CAN THINK ABOUT THIS MACHINERY OF NATURE AS A TYPE OF CAPITAL THAT PROVIDES US WITH A STREAM OF BENEFITS AND THE CHALLENGE BEFORE US IS TO COME UP WITH INSTITUTIONS AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR NATURAL CAPITAL, JUST AS WE HAVE OVER A MILLENIA NOW FOR OTHER TYPES OF CAPITAL, LIKE BUILT CAPITAL, FINANCIAL CAPITAL, HUMAN CAPITAL, SO THE FOCUS NOW IS APPROPRIATELY ON NATURAL CAPITAL BECAUSE WE ARE RAPIDLY DEPLETING IT.

>> THIS IS AN ADULT SILVER CARP FEMALE.

SHE'S PROBABLY A MONTH AWAY FROM BEING AS HEAVY WITH EGGS AS SHE CAN GET TO SPAWN.

THERE'S OVER A MILLION EGGS IN EACH EGG SET.

SILVER CARP HAS A SURVIVAL RATE OF 70 TO 80%, SO WHEN YOU SEE SPAWN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 7 TO 800,000 BABY SILVER CARP WITH ONE FISH.

THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE OVER AND WIPE OUT OUR NATIVE FISH STOCKS.

APPREHENSIVE-SOUNDING MUSIC >> MORE THAN 40 OF THESE BEES ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BOTTOM.

THE CANAL IS 160 FEET.

WE'RE ABLE TO CREATE AN ELECTRICAL FIELD IN THE CANAL WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ALLOW NAVIGATION AND AS FISH APPROVE FROM DOWNSTREAM INTO THE ELECTRICAL FIELD, THEY SHOULD FEEL A LITTLE TINGLE AND IF THEY CONTINUE TO TRY TO COME THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL FEED, THEY'RE STUNNED.

AT SOME POINT, MOST OF THESE WILL BE STUNNED.

>> IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL THE EVER-GROWING POPULATION OF THE BIG-HEAD AND SILVER CARP, THEY'VE TEAMED UP WITH A CHEF TO TRY TO CREATE A RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL DEMAND FOR THESE FISH.

IN THEIR MARKETING STRATEGY, THEY ARE REFERRING TO THE MEAT OF BOTH SPECIES AS SIMPLY SILVER FIN.

EXTENSIVE RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE TO FIND OUT IF THE MEAT WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO CONSUMERS.

WHAT DOES IT MATTER IF RAIN COMES OUR WAY, AND RAINDROPS... EERIE MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND TAKE IT AND DON'T COMPLAIN IF YOU WANT THE RAINBOW, YOU MUST HAVE THE RAIN Applause >> LIFE JACKETS FOR FOUR OF YOU.

YOUR CONNECTION TO THE MISSISSIPPI DOESN'T HAVE TO STOP AT THE END OF THIS SHOW.

I HAVE KATIE NYBERG HERE, DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FUND, TO TELL ME MORE ABOUT A SERIES OF EVENTS THIS SUMMER CALLED RIVER CITY REVUE.

>> THANKS, ADIA.

OKAY, EVERYBODY, SITING ON YOUR COUCH, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OFF THE COUCH AND ENJOY US AT RIVER CITY REVUE THIS SUMMER.

YOU CAN GET ABURDEN A PADDLE BOAT, COME TO CITY HOUSE, COME TO HASTINGS, MINNESOTA, YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THE WATER BAR, YOU CAN EXPERIENCE A LOT OF SCIENTISTS AND ARTISTS, LIKE SHANIA AND COULD LICENSE THAT WE HAD HERE TONIGHT, COME ABOARD AND JOIN US LIVE, IT WOULD BE GREAT, COME TO OUR WEBSITE, BUY TICKETS AT MISSRIVERFUND.ORG, AND WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU THIS SUMMER.

THANKS.

>> SOUND VERY COOL.

I'M EXCITED.

THANKS, KATIE!

OUR FINAL VIDEO OF THE NIGHT IS ITS OWN LOVE LETTER TO THE MISSISSIPPI.

OJIBWE ELDER SHARON DAY HAS WALKED THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER MORE THAN ONCE, AN INCREDIBLE STORY.

SHE IS PART OF A GROUP OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND OTHER WATER WALKERS WHO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE WATER WE ALL DEPEND ON FOR LIFE.

SPEAKING NATIVE LAKE SO WHAT I SAID IN THE OJIBWE LANGUAGE IS GREETINGS MY RELATIVES, MY NAME IS SINGING WOLF AND I'M FROM THE MARTIN CLAN.

AND I ALSO SAID THAT I'M A...

SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE >> WHICH IS WATER WOMAN.

SINCE TIME BEGAN, OJIBWE WOMEN HAVE BEEN GATHERING THE WATER.

I LIVE ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI AND WALK THE MISSISSIPPI, I CRISSCROSS IT MANY TIMES A DAY AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE MISSISSIPPI, SO 2013, MARCH 1st, WE GATHERED WATER AT THE HEAD WATERS AND WE CARRIED IT TO A PLACE CALLED FORT JACKSON IN LOUISIANA.

I BELIEVE IT WAS 62 DAYS AND 1754 MILES.

WHEN WE DO OUR WALKS, WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE LOVE THE WATER.

WE'RE NOT FIGHTING THE MINING COMPANIES, WE'RE NOT FIGHTING, YOU KNOW, FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY.

FOR EVERY ACTION, THERE IS A REACTION AND WHAT WE WANT ARE THOSE REACTIONS TO BE, YES, I WANT TO WALK WITH YOU.

YES, WE ARE THE WATER.

SO EVERY MORNING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WALK, YOU KNOW, WE BEGIN WITH A CEREMONY, AND WE SING THE WATER SONG THAT MY SISTER MADE.

SINGING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE >> IT SIMPLY SAYS IN OUR LANGUAGE, WATER, WE LOVE YOU, WE THANK YOU, WE RESPECT YOU.

EVERY DAY IS AN ADVENTURE.

EVERY DAY IS NEW.

EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S RAINING OR SNOWING, YOU KNOW, YOUR JOB IS TO WALK.

WHEN WE'RE BORN, WHEN OUR SPIRIT COMES INTO THIS EARTH, IN THE PHYSICAL FORM, WE ENTER THE WORLD -- WE'RE PURE AND CLEAN AND SHINING AND AS WE GO THROUGH LIFE AND WE TRADE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT GENEROSITY FOR SELFISHNESS AND WE TRADE SOME OF THAT LOVE FOR HATRED AND SO ON, SO FORTH, BUT AS HUMANS, WE CAN ALSO TRADE THOSE THINGS BACK.

BUT THE RIVER DOES NOTHING.

THE RIVER COMES INTO THE WORLD AT LAKE ITASCA, PURE AND CLEAN, AND AS SHE FLOWS DOWN, IT'S WE HUMANS, YOU KNOW, WHO POLLUTE HER, SO WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN STOP THAT.

OUR WORK REALLY IS TO SUPPORT ALL OF THE OTHER WORK THAT'S BEING DONE ON BEHALF OF THE WATER, SO THE SCIENTISTS, THE ACTIVISTS, YOU KNOW, THOSE PEOPLE WHO CLEAN THE RIVERS EVERY YEAR, OUR WORK REALLY IS TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT THEY DO BUT IN OUR IN DUELING NEWS WAY.

-- INDIGENOUS WAY.

WHEN WE CARRY THAT WATER FROM THE MUST SIP, WHEN WE GOT TO FORT JACKSON, IT WAS RAINING AND IT WASN'T THIS BIG FANFARE OF WE JUST WALKED 1,754 MILES, A BIG CELEBRATION, IT WAS A SMALL HANDFUL OF WOMEN, BUT WHEN WE WALKED TO THE RIVER AND WE TOOK THAT WATER, THEY CAN STILL DRINK FROM LAKE ITASCA, AND WE POURED IT INTO -- BACK INTO THE RIVER, WE WANTED THE RIVER TO REMEMBER, THIS IS HOW YOU BEGAN, THIS IS HOW YOU BEGAN, PURE AND CLEAN.

THEN THERE WAS A WAVE THAT CAME AND IT COVERED OUR FEET, AND THEN ANOTHER WAVE AND IT COVERED OUR ANKLES.

THE FOURTH WAVE CAME UP TO OUR KNEES AND WE ALL JUST STOOD THERE AND LET THAT WATER WASH OVER US, IT WAS LIKE BEING KISSED BY THE RIVER.

THIS IS HOW YOU BEGAN.

THIS IS HOW YOU BEGAN, PURE AND CLEAN.

THIS IS HOW WE WISH FOR YOU TO BE AGAIN.

Cheering CHANTING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE Applause >> THAT'S IT FOR TV TAKEVOER THIS WEEK.

A BIG THANK-YOU TO THE AMAZING WORKS PROGRESS STUDIO!

NEXT WEEK, WE'LL BE JOINED BY ST. PAUL ALMANAC TO CELEBRATE EVERYTHING SAINT PAUL.

BUT BEFORE WE GO TONIGHT, PLEASE GIVE IT UP FOR JAYANTHI KYLE WHO HAS WRITTEN HER LETTER TO THE RIVER, IN SONG.

THAT'S HOW THE RIVER FLOWS NOT FROM THE HIGHEST PEAK, BUT FROM THE DEPTHS BELOW, FROM WHERE MY SPIRIT SPEAKS FROM THE MUDDY SHORES, A SUBTLE FEELING GROWS, THAT I HAVE STOOD HERE BEFORE, RIGHT WHERE THE RIVER FLOWS WHEN I WASH MY MUDDY HAIR BY THE BANKS OF THE GHANGZE, I HEARD A WHISPER, THERE FROM MY MOTHER, AND MY MOTHER'S MOTHER, THEY WERE SINGING TO ME AND PETAL AFTER PETAL, I WOULD SETTLE ON HER BACK, AS SHE DRIFTS TO THE OCEAN AND THE DEEPNESS TURNING BLACK I COULD WADE IN, I COULD LET IT WASH ME DOWN, FEEL IT COVER ME, I WOULD NEVER AGAIN BE FOUND THAT'S HOW THE RIVER FLOWS, NOT FROM THE HIGHEST PEAK, BUT FROM THE DEPTHS BELOW, FROM WHERE MY SPIRIT SPEAKS FROM THE MUDDY SHORES, A SUBTLE FEELING GROWS, THAT I'VE STOOD HERE BEFORE, RIGHT WHERE THE RIVER FLOWS I SAID I'VE KNOWN IT, I'VE KNOWN THAT RIVER, TOO, IT MADE ME SHIVER, UNTIL I TURNED THE COLOR BLUE, AND FROM THE DUSKY ANCIENT NILE WHEN I WAS ONLY JUST A CHILD, I HEARD IT SINGING, AND IT SAID, BE FREE OH, BUT FREEDOM, WHEREBY THE RIVER FOUND ITS CHAINS, OH, I TRAVELED, I CANNOT GO BACK AGAIN, SO FROM THE SHALLOWS, I WILL WHISPER TO THE DEEP THAT I HAVE NO YOU, THAT YOU'VE BEEN CALLING OUT TO ME THAT'S HOW THE RIVER FLOWS, AND FROM THE HIGHEST PEAKS, BUT FROM THE DEPTHS BELOW, FROM WHERE MY SPIRIT SPEAKS FROM THE MUDDY SHORES, THE SUBTLE FEELING GROWS, THAT I STOOD HERE BEFORE, RIGHT WHERE THE RIVER FLOWS Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting & Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> TV TAKEOVER IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY AN AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS, THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION.

PROUDLY SPORTING THE ARTS IN MINNESOTA.