Jim Northrup, 1943-2016. Photo from Facebook



Northrup was the author of several books including Walking the Rez Road , for which he won a Minnesota Book Award and a Northeast Minnesota Book Award. He also wrote a syndicated column called Fond du Lac Follies that was read throughout Indian Country.

Northrup had been battling kidney cancer that spread throughout his body. He attributed the disease to exposure to Agent Orange during his service in the Vietnam War, Forum News Service reported in April.

A wake will take place this Thursday at the Sawyer Community Center in Sawyer, Minnesota. The funeral will be held on Friday at the center.

"A traditional fire has been lit at his [residence] and all are invited to stop by and pay their respects at any time," son Matthew wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. The address is 1244 Northrup Road in Cloquet.

end of the beginning



Someone said we begin to die

the minute we're born.

Death is a part of life.

Who knows why the Creator

thins the herd.

Another old saying says

we must all be prepared

to give up those we love

or die first.

Take time to mourn.

Take time to remember.

Everything happens in cycles.

The pain you feel was once

balanced by someone's joy

when that baby was born.

The loss you feel today

will be replaced by good

long-lasting memories.

Is there a message here? Yea,

treat others like this

is your last day above ground.

Matthew also shared a poem written by his father that appeared in Walking The Rez Road. It follows:

Get the Story: Ojibwe storyteller and writer Jim Northrup dies at age 73 (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 8/2) Ojibwe author Jim Northrup dies at age 73 (The Duluth News Tribune 8/2) Award winning author and poet, Jim Northrup, dies at age 73 (NNCNOW.com 8/2) An Ojibwe Author Passes Away (KQDS 8/1) Ojibwe writer Jim Northrup dies (Minnesota Public Radio 8/1)

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