All Missouri River Float Trip Outdoor Education Alumni
Winter 2002

In the late 1960's and early 70's, MSU-Northern's Outdoor Recreation Class undertook the challenge of introducing a float trip on the portion of the Missouri River below Fort Benton, the area of the white cliffs of the Missouri. Under the able leadership of Tom Nielson, it prospered and grew into a very popular venue for summer students of all places and ages. Out of this experience came the idea for a slide show that showcased this beautiful area to attempt to gain added protection and to strive for a "wild and scenic" designation.

Emil DonTigny, local Havre Theatre owner, was the original impetus for the river trip. A sensitive man of French Canadian descent, he used to ply the rivers where he grew up. Among the many friends with whom he shared his love for the Missouri, was history professor Harrison Lane. Thus began Northern's summer school curriculum addition of the river float trips a quarter century ago.

During this time, several governmental agencies were considering damning the Missouri River for power, namely the Bureau of Reclamation, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Fish and Game. Many who opposed this move quickly mobilized, including NMC faculty members, Lou Hagener, Dave Greenwood, Ken Wolchek and Harrison Lane who traveled many miles to meetings to add their opposition to that endeavor. Harrison Lane commented, "I'll be damned if they are going to dam the Missouri so they can have more lights in Seattle!" The slide show was developed to show people this wild, untamed, and scenic area and to fight for its preservation. Cliff Whittemore, technical expert and another Northern employee, was responsible for putting the show together. Many hours were spent choosing the right slides from Emil DonTigny's vast collection of photos. Bill Lisenby of the NMC English Department, with his clear resonant voice was chosen to read the narration that had been written by Dr. Harrison Lane, who had plied that section of the river some 20 times with the class and others as a resource person in the history of the area.

Today, much attention is focused again on this section of the river. In due time, it received the "Wild and Scenic" designation and has now been upgraded to "The Wild Missouri National Monument." With the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery celebration just around the corner, local historians felt it was a good time to dust off the old slide show, update it, and put it into video form. Through the assistance of Dean Hellinger of the Shutterbug Club at Devon, this has been accomplished.

The video, originally funded by a grant from the Montana Committee for the Humanities, is a beautiful and serene presentation and a wonderful memory for those who have floated this section of the river as a student, or on their own. It would be a fine acquisition for those who would like to see the area from their armchair. A fundraiser for the H. Earl Clack Museum, it sells for $20.00 plus postage and handling. For further information, please contact the H. Earl Clack Museum at the Heritage Center in Havre at (406) 265-4000 or Arlie J. Lane, 133 8th Street, Havre, Montana, (406) 265-7653.
 

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