According to historical accounts, brothers Stephen and George Bonga joked that they were the “first white men” in the Wisconsin and Minnesota frontier where they settled – although they actually hailed from African and Ojibwe descent. The family was integral to the development of the area in the early 1800s, and an important cultural link to all its people. “Simply Superior” host Robin Washington speaks with Vern Northrup, a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, about their legacy, and updates for where to find historical markers of their travels. We share this rebroadcast in honor of Black History Month.
Plus, what do you get when you mix nontraditional song structures, genre blending (not bending), colorful synthesizers, and layered vocals? It’s the Superior-based psychedelic pop band Vanilla Bloom. Founder Jacob Cloutier shares the band’s work and backstory with Washington as this week’s musical guest.
Episode Credits
- Robin Washington Host
- Robin Washington Producer
- Ezra Wall Producer
- Vern Northrup Guest
- Jacob Cloutier Guest
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