Funny You Don't Look Like One: Observations of a Blue-Eyed Ojibway

Funny You Don't Look Like One #1

by Drew Hayden Taylor

Funny, You Don't Look Like One is the first book in what became a series of four by Drew Hayden Taylor. The articles, essays and columns in this volume cover many issues pertaining to Aboriginal life and often give a humorous take on each subject. Taylor describes his collection as "simply the ideas and observations of a Native person living in this country we call Canada—the good, the bad and the ugly."

Genres: Indigenous, Essays, Humor, Canada, Nonfiction, Memoir, Politics

127 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 1996

About the author

During the last thirty years of his life, Drew Hayden Taylor has done many things, most of which he is proud of. An Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations in Ontario, he has worn many hats in his literary career, from performing stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to being Artistic Director of Canada's premiere Native theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts. He has been an award-winning playwright (with over 70 productions of his work), a journalist/columnist (appearing regularly in several Canadian newspapers and magazines), short-story writer, novelist, television scriptwriter, and has worked on over 17 documentaries exploring the Native experience. Most notably, he wrote and directed REDSKINS, TRICKSTERS AND PUPPY STEW, a documentary on Native humour for the National Film Board of Canada.

He has traveled to sixteen countries around the world, spreading the gospel of Native literature to the world. Through many of his books, most notably the four volume set of the FUNNY, YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE ONE series, he has tried to educate and inform the world about issues that reflect, celebrate, and interfere in the lives of Canada's First Nations.

Self described as a contemporary story teller in what ever form, last summer saw the production of the third season of MIXED BLESSINGS, a television comedy series he co-created and is the head writer for. This fall, a made-for-tv movie he wrote, based on his Governor General's nominated play was nominated for three Gemini Awards, including Best Movie. Originally it aired on APTN and opened the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, and the Dreamspeakers Film Festival in Edmonton.

The last few years has seen him proudly serve as the Writer-In-Residence at the University of Michigan and the University of Western Ontario. In 2007, Annick Press published his first Novel, THE NIGHT WANDERER: A Native Gothic Novel, a teen novel about an Ojibway vampire. Two years ago, his non-fiction book exploring the world of Native sexuality, called ME SEXY, was published by Douglas & McIntyre. It is a follow up to his highly successful book on Native humour, ME FUNNY.

The author of 20 books in total, he is eagerly awaiting the publication of his new novel in February by Random House as "One of the new faces of fiction for 2010", titled MOTORCYCLES AND SWEETGRASS. In January, his new play, DEAD WHITE WRITER ON THE FLOOR, opens at Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay. Currently, he is working on a new play titled CREES IN THE CARRIBEAN, and a collection of essays called POSTCARDS FROM THE FOUR DIRECTIONS. More importantly, he is desperately trying to find the time to do his laundry.

Oddly enough, the thing his mother is most proud of is his ability to make spaghetti from scratch.

Reviews

[Pankaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny ... and blunt force honesty come together ... again!

Here's a sample. The essay on "An Indian by Any Other Name" states "Columbus, a member of the "European/Caucasian Nations" thought he had found India and all that. That's cool, but theres's also another school of thought that says that Columbus was so impressed by the generosity and gentleness of the Native population of the Caribbean, he wrote back to Spain that they were "of the body of God," or in Spanish, "corpus in deo." In deo - Indian. A pretty thin link, but who knows? I have known some Indians with God-given bodies."

[Michelle Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing collection of essays about being indigenous in the contemporary world. Full of humor, taking aim at those who deserve it, and elaborating upon urban indigeneity. Just a great, great collection of essays from Taylor.

[Jo🦊Anie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and sarcastic on very (still) hot topics on the Indigenous (or Indian) complexe reality in Canada.

[Jeffrey Greening · Rating 4 out of 5]

He’s a funny dude. I like all his stuff .

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the wit and heart the author brings to a very complex subject. The author addresses the hidden pressures and cultural expectations that are placed on us from outside as well as within. look forward to reading his other book. Anything that can make you laugh and think at the same time is a great book and likely to have a lasting impact on the reader. Will be looking for a copy for my collection.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tongue in cheek account of a white skinned, blue eyed Ojibway man from Canada who contends with societal expectations of what a `native`or `Indian`should look, act or sound like. His books are usually filled with alot of humour while addressing some serious issues that most people find difficult to to discuss such as racial identity, racism and so forth. It`s well worth reading.

[Lester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you D.H.T...I have now requested a few more books to read from the library..in particular Maria Campbell's book, Half-Breed.
I find your writings interesting, entertaining and, of course, frustrating with sadness added in.