Renee Rusco

Location of Interview
Collection Name

The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project

Description

The Working Waterfront Festival Community  Documentation Project is an ongoing oral history project documenting the history and culture of the commercial fishing industry and other port trades. The project was begun in 2004 in conjunction with the Working Waterfront Festival, an annual, education celebration of commercial fishing culture which takes place in New Bedford, MA. Interviewees have included a wide range of individuals connected to the commercial fishing industry and/or other aspects of the port through work or familial ties. While the majority of interviewees are from the port of New Bedford, the project has also documented numerous individuals  from other ports around the country. Folklorist and    Festival Director Laura Orleans and Community Scholar/Associate Director Kirsten Bendiksen are Project Leaders. The original recordings reside at the National Council for the Traditional Arts in Maryland with listening copies housed at the Festival's New Bedford office.

Date of Interview
09-30-2012
Transcript
Biographical Sketch

Renee Rusco is a commercial fisherman and cook originally from Mississippi. Born and raised in the Mississippi delta, Rusco left her home at the age of eighteen to seek adventure and see the world . She spent a significant amount of time in Houston, Texas before moving to the Pacific Northwest, specifically Portland, Oregon, Vancouver, Washington, and eventually settling in Astoria, Oregon where she lives on a fishing boat. Rusco has fished from Alaska down the Pacific Coast and has earned respect in her field by always pulling her weight.

Scope and Content Note
This interview with Renee Rusco, conducted by Madeleine Hall-Arber on September 30, 2012, provides an in-depth look into the life of a female commercial fisherman and cook. Rusco discusses her upbringing in the Mississippi delta, her journey to the Pacific Northwest, and her experiences living and working on a fishing boat. She shares stories of her encounters with wildlife, including whales and eagles, and provides a vivid description of the remote Alaskan village where she fishes. The interview also touches on the social and cultural aspects of fishing life, including the relationships with other fishermen, the training required to be a fisherman, and the prestige and status associated with the occupation. The interview provides valuable insights into the life aboard a fishing vessel and the unique challenges and rewards of a career in commercial fishing.


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