Trip to Barada

Barada is a tiny village of 28 in Southeast Nebraska. The town is named for Antoine Barada, the son of a French immigrant and an Native American mother. Barada is in a section of land designated as a "half-breed" reservation.

Evidently the government felt citizen's of mixed heritage needed a place separate of "whites" and Indian Nations. Barada's mother, Laughing Buffalo, was from the Omaha Nation.

Barada was a giant of a man and legends of his fetes of strength are still told. He has been called the "Paul Bunyan of Nebraska."

The Associated Press reported: "Tales of Antoine Barada's strength are many. He was known as a huge man, measuring well over six feet tall and guessed as close to seven feet by many - a giant of a man for that day and age."

I went to Barada with Morgan Sailors. Five generations of Sailors are buried in The Harris Cemetery on a hill west of the village. Included is Larry D. Sailors, a gentle giant with a beautiful singing voice.

Larry Dean Sailors loved nature and shared much of his knowledge with Morgan. One of his favorite activities was foraging for morel mushrooms. Morgan took me on my first morel hunt when I returned to Nebraska after 10 years in the Chicago area.

For several years before Larry's death, Morgan would take fresh morels to his father as he was unable to get out in the woods. Larry died May 19, 2009 -- shortly after the morel season ended. The lessons he taught of the natural world will live on as long as the legend of Antoine Barada. Morgan has shared his knowledge and experiences with hundreds and those excited by his tales share the secrets of finding morels with their family and friends. As I have done.