JoDan_Rousu

Nineteen eighty was an interesting year. The arcade version of Pac-Man was released; Ronald Reagan was elected president; Japan became the world’s largest auto producing country; The United Kingdom and Spain agreed to reopen the border between Gibraltar and Spain (which had been closed since '69); The Solidarity Trade Union formed in Poland; a gallon of gasoline was seventy-nine cents; Mount St. Helens erupted; a severe summer heatwave in the south caused 1,117 deaths in twenty states; John Lennon was assassinated; and I was born, bringing the then current Census of U.S. population to 226,504,825.
I'm the youngest of six siblings and was raised on a family farm located within the boundaries of the White Earth Indian Reservation. I am an enrolled member of the Mississippi Band of Ojibwe, part of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
For many years I've made my living off the land. In the springtime, my family and I harvest maple sap and produce syrup and sugar; In the fall I harvest firewood and Maanoomin (wild rice, the Ojibwe staple grain); In the winter I harvest furbearers; and of course, fishing is year round sustenance.
I now find myself here at KMHA, as Director of Program Development/Assistant Manager
I do have considerable broadcast experience. I began working in the radio biz fulltime, over a decade ago. My first experience was engineering the "Bob Becker's Olde Tyme Variety Show" on Real Country 102, in Detroit Lakes MN. If you wanted to hear any Polkas, Landlers, or Shoddishes, that was the place to turn.
As my skills were polished and my interests grew, I moved on in 2007 to Talk Radio KTRF am1230, in Thief River Falls. This is where I became aware of the responsibilities behind broadcasting. There are intimate relationships created between the listener and the on-air personality. As a broadcaster, I've been invited into countless lives for a wake-up call, a visit over breakfast, a drive around town, heck; some will even take us into the bathroom with 'em. Yeah, it's that intimate.
In 2010 I received a job offer back home on my reserve. The White Earth Land Recovery Project (WELRP) was granted a non-commercial Educational Broadcast License from the FCC, and construction of the 64KW station began. My official title was Program Director/Executive Producer. I developed a 24-hour eclectic blend of music, news, and current event programs for the broadcast work day. The station KKWE Niijii Radio*niijii* which means friend, in Ojibwe, went live November 11th, 2011 at 11:11am. The mid-day "Cup-o-Joe" began with a veteran’s song, and then an Honor song. To say Miigwech*thanks*, to the ones who fought so hard for us to finally have a voice for our people.
In August of 2014, I felt I needed new challenges, to continue my growth, and this is what leads me to New Town.
It's been an honor and privilege to serve these communities, with news, information, entertainment, and companionship. Now, I intend to carry on with the same respect and integrity here at KMHA.