Jim Northrup (writer)

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Jim Northrup
Born April 28, 1943 (1943-04-28) (age 65)
Fond du Lac Indian Reservation, Minnesota, United States
Occupation Newspaper columnist
Genres Journalism, short story, poetry, storyteller, anecdotal
Literary movement Native American writing, reportage
Notable work(s) Rez Road Follies]]
Influences
Official website

Jim Northrup (born 1943) is an Anishinaabe (Native American) newspaper columnist, poet, performer and political commentator from the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation in Minnesota. His Anishinaabe name is "Chibenashi" (from Chi-bineshiinh "Big little-bird").

Contents

[edit] Summary

Northrup's regular column, the Fond du Lac Follies, is syndicated through several Native American papers. It has won many awards (see below) and is known for a warm humour with a sharply political undertone. Northrup often tells stories through the perspective of his immediate family, most of whom like himself live a traditional Anishinaabe lifestyle, and uses a folksy style to make points about United States-Native American interactions. His two books, Walking the Rez Road and Rez Road Follies, are written in the same style, and have been highly praised for their insights into reservation life. He peppers his column, and the books, with jokes (e.g. Q: Why is the white man in such a hurry to get to Mars? A: He thinks we have land there) and words or phrases from his tribal language, Ojibwemowin, of which he is a student.

Born in the Government Hospital on the reservation, Northrup was brought up in an Indian boarding school, where he was physically abused by teachers and fellow students, Northrup grew up a tough streetfighter with a smart mouth. Service in Vietnam and a surfeit of family tragedy have added to a strong, humorous voice that is unafraid to talk about the darker side of life.

[edit] Quotes

I used to be known as a bullshitter but that didn't pay anything. I began calling myself a storyteller - a little better, more prestige - but it still didn't pay anything. I became a freelance writer. At first it was more free than lance, then I started getting money for my words (Rez Road Follies, p. 2)

[edit] Awards

  • Writer of the Year (newspaper category) - Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers - 2002
  • Minnesota Book Award for Rez Road Follies - 1995

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Autobiographies

  • Rez Road Follies: Canoes, Casinos, Computers and Birch Bark Baskets, 1997, Kodansha America.
  • Walking the Rez Road, Voyageur Press.

[edit] Poetry

  • WAHBEGAN
  • Three more: poems, illustrations by Eva Two Crow, Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the Loft, 1992.
  • Days of Obsidian, Days of Grace (with Adrian Louis, Al Hunter, and Denise Sweet), 1994,

Poetry Harbor Press

[edit] Plays

  • Rez Road 2000
  • Rez Road Follies
  • Shinnob Jep

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

  • Personal website (includes contact details, links to poems and other online writing)
Languages