Everglades Of The North

Waterfowl U.S.A.

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Everglades of the North

The Story of the Grand Kankakee Marsh

"Never in all my world travels, have I found a more perfect spot, not a more tantalizing river."

General Lew Wallace

Author, BEN HUR

Once known as the Northern Everglades, the Grand Kankakee Marsh was one of the largest wetlands in North America. This riparian Garden of Eden covered much of present-day Northern Indiana and Illinois, and was home to some of the highest concentrations of wildlife on the planet.

Native Americans considered the Grand Marshʼs waters natureʼs womb. Louis the XIV would claim the land as “New France.” Sportsman and market hunters called it “paradise.” Industrialists made their fortunes from its seemingly endless natural resources. For centuries the marsh gave and man took.

What became of the Grand Kankakee Marsh?

Summary & Objective

Everglades of the North will explore the diverse ecology, unveil the astonishing history, and illustrate the controversial saga of the Grand Kankakee Marsh (GKM).

We will bring to life the story of how people have used and perceived the GKM from early Native Americans to modern day industrialists, while educating viewers about the vital role wetlands and prairies play in our ecosystem. We will deliver viewers the ongoing and living story of the

marsh through expert interviews, beautiful high-definition wildlife footage, historic never-before-seen photographs, and thoughtful recreations. Our hope is to educate the public and inspire them to save part of this national treasure for future generations.

Production Team

BRIAN KALLIES (Producer, Director of Photography, Editor) is a seasoned producer, director of photography and editor of broadcast documentaries, short films, television specials, and commercials. He was production manager and senior producer at WYIN-Lakeshore Public Television and an associate producer at WTTW-11 for the specials Seven Wonders of Chicago and Chicago By Boat: The New River Tour. Brian’s latest documentary, Phunny Business: A Black Comedy, will air nationally on Showtime and has critical acclaim all over the country. Brian lives in Chicago now, but someday hopes to return to his hometown of Cedar Lake, IN to teach television and filmmaking.

JEFF MANES (Producer, Writer) writes the syndicated column Salt, that tells the stories of the working class in the Calumet Region. Jeff’s literary career was born out of his twenty-five years working at the steel mills in East Chicago. Since 2000 he has seen his fiction, poetry, and essays published across the country in literary magazines of every ilk. Jeff has read his work throughout the United States and was named Adult Learner of the Year by the Association of Joint Labor/Management in New York City. Jeff has penned more than 400 columns to date and is planning on publishing a book based on these writings. Born in Kankakee, IL and raised in Sumava Resorts and Lake Village, Manes has lived near the Kankakee River most of his life.

PAT WISNIEWSKI (Producer, Director of Photography) began her production company, For Goodness Sake Productions, with the mission of producing quality films that make a difference. She began filmmaking at WYIN-Lakeshore Public Television assisting in the shooting and editing of several local WWII Veteran’s stories as a compendium to Ken Burn’s documentary, The War. Pat won a Christopher Award in 2006, for a short documentary about How One Person Can Make a Difference. Pat turned to filmmaking after helping laid-off steel workers find jobs and her own time spent working in the mills of South Chicago. Pat and her family have lived in Valparaiso, IN for 15 years and proudly call themselves "Hoosiers".

TOM DESCH (Producer, Director of Photography, Editor) is an independent documentarian and commercial editor and shooter (Towers Productions, Axiom Megamedia). He has edited numerous shows for broadcast and cable for PBS, The Biography Channel, and Animal Planet. His 2011 documentary, The Field, about Chicago’s proposed third airport is currently on the festival circuit. Tom grew up in Kankakee County, IL and fondly remembers fishing with his father for bullhead on the banks of the Kankakee River.

Information Provided By:

For Goodness Sake Productions, LLC

E-Mail: forgoodnesssakeproductions@gmail.com

Phone: (219-508-7364)