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Grandma says: wake up, world! : the wisdom, wit, advice, and stories of "Grandma Aggie"
2015
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Gr 7 Up-Grandma Aggie, the oldest living member of the Takelma Tribe, one of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, delivers her message with sass and candor. The content deals with many environmental issues, such as conserving water and not using lead in bullets. She shares stories of her childhood to encourage listeners to work hard, get an education, and stay away from drugs. Though the material is interesting and her delivery engaging, the book struggles with execution. Many stories are repeated, a few three or four times. And though Grandma Aggie touches on issues of bullying and suicide, her solution of going to the bully's parents to get them to show that child love and to stop any abuse hardly addresses the bullied. Many times she says depressed people need to change their way of thinking. Encouraging laughter and staying away from drugs are fine words of advice but may not be enough for youth feeling trapped by poverty and entrenched racism. With more editing and better direction, this may have had a bigger impact. VERDICT Recommended for libraries serving Native Americans and Oregon and Washington State for cultural references.-C.A. Fehmel, St. Louis County Library © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Summary

Agnes Baker Pilgrim, known to most as Grandma Aggie, was the oldest living member of the Takelma Tribe, one of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz.

A descendant of both spiritual and political tribal leaders, Grandma Aggie traveled tirelessly around the world to keep traditions alive, to help those in need, and to be a voice for the voiceless, helping everyone to remember to preserve our Earth for animals and each other in a spiritual environment.

Considered an excellent speaker, she mesmerized her audience wherever she appeared, and now her wit, wisdom, memories, advice, stories, and spirituality have been captured for all to hear.

Honored as a "Living Cultural Legend" by the Oregon Council of the Arts, Grandma Aggie here speaks about her childhood memories, about her tribe and her life as a child growing up in an area that often didn't allow Indians and dogs into many public places, as well as about such contemporary issues as bullying, teen suicide, drugs and alcohol, Pope Francis, President Obama, water conservation, climate change, and much more.

This is an amazing recording of one of the oldest and most important voices of the First Nation and of the world. Her stories and advice will mesmerize and captivate you, as well as provide a blueprint for how all the inhabitants of the earth can live together in harmony, spirituality, and peace.

Table of Contents
1Introductionp. 4
2The Story of My Peoplep. 6
3Childhoodp. 9
4Being an Elderp. 22
5My Spiritual Walk - A Voice for the Voicelessp. 30
6International Grandmothersp. 33
7Waterp. 52
8Sacred Salmon Ceremonyp. 60
9Earth Mother, Animals, and Foodp. 71
10My Totemsp. 80
11Spirit-Drivenp. 85
12Drugs and Alcoholp. 90
13Giving Thanks, Letting Gop. 101
14Bullyingp. 104
15Teen Suicidep. 110
16A Message for Men and Womenp. 116
17I Am Balancedp. 120
18Parentingp. 123
19Marriagep. 126
20Injustice and Inequalityp. 128
21Everybody Has a Giftp. 133
22Reconnectingp. 137
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