Not Far Away

The Real-life Adventures of Ima Pipiig

By (author) Steve Beard

Publication date:

21 September 2007

Length of book:

282 pages

Publisher

AltaMira Press

Dimensions:

240x161mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9780759111189

In Not Far Away, a semi-fictional memoir, Lois Beardslee gives a chilling acount of racism, particularly that leveled against Native women, in language that is supple, evocative, often comical, and always incisive. Her fictional heroine, the teacher Ima Pipiig (pronounced "buh-BEEG"), endures humiliating insults from school administrators, fellow teachers, students, and callous neighbors. For years, she suffers in silence, believing that opposing bigotry would only fuel its caustic flames—but then she begins to speak out. Scattered among the chapters chronicling Ima's experiences are essays and speeches written by the author herself, blurring the line between fiction and fact and creating a kind of resounding echo of resistance that is the author's response to racism.

Part 1 Introduction
2 The Real Life Adventures of Ima Pipiig
3 Koolaid
4 Solstice
5 Indian Boarding School
6 Not Far Away
7 Falcon Clan Meets Indian Boarding School
8 Venn Diagrams
9 Educating Ima
10 Before I Offend Most of You, I Would Like to Thank You for Coming
11 Turtle TV
12 Public Education As a Form of Media
13 Racism 101
14 The Lecture They Want to Hear
15 Sweetgrass
16 The Play
17 Creation Stories
18 No Wait, I Know a Part That Comes Before the Beginning
19 The Lore of the Turtle
20 Book Reviews
21 The Lars Nederstadt Holocaust Museum
22 Men in Brown
23 Why Ima Pipiig Did Not Vote
24 Jim Crow- Culture of Convenience
25 The Chair
26 F-ed By the V-Monologues
27 The Throw-Away People
28 Laughing Man
29 I Wannabe a Delicacy
30 Dead Horses, and How to Beat Them
31 Toxins
32 Gambling for Dollars
33 Big Waldeau and Pork Patty
34 Shiigawk
35 On Warriors, Living and Dead
36 The Shirt
37 We Did Not Come Over Here on the Mayflower
38 The Ladies Sat There Patiently

Once again Lois Beardslee goes right to the heart, both figuratively and pointedly. Through her own voice and experiences, and through that of her semi-fictional, semi-autobiographical alter-ego, Ima Pipiig, she effectively makes abundantly clear the many forms that racism takes, permeating social institutions and every aspect of our daily lives. Her words, carefully considered, yet straight from the wounds of experience, speak powerfully to Native and non-Native readers alike. This book is highly recommended to the general reader and to every student seriously seeking insights into contemporary American society.