Many of the pants have since become invasive species, choking or otherwise endangering native species to sustain their own pace of exponential growth. I refrain from including specific quotes in case a reader does take a sneak peak before finishing the book, but I do feel your best journey is one taken page-by-page. She asks this question as she tells the stories of Native American displacement, which forever changed the lives of her . As for the rest of it, although I love the author's core message--that we need to find a relationship to the land based on reciprocity and gratitude, rather than exploitation--I have to admit, I found the book a bit of a struggle to get through. Does the act of assigning scientific labels halt exploration? Shes completely comfortable moving between the two and their co-existence within her mind gives her a unique understanding of her experience. In Oregon, on the West Coast of the United States, the hard shiny leaves of salal and Oregon grape make a gentle hiss of "ratatatat" (293). Do you feel a deeper connection to your local plants now? Kimmerer who recently won a MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant used as an example one successful project at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where she directs the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment. In the world view that structures her book the relations between human and plant are likewise reciprocal and filled with caring. Does your perception of food change when you consider how food arrived at your table; specifically, a forced removal vs. garden nurturing? Robin Wall Kimmerer posed the question to her forest biology students at the State University of New York, in their final class in March 2020, before the pandemic sent everyone home. Burning Sweetgrass is the final section of this book. Which of the chapters immediately drew you in and why? Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass. Through this anecdote, Kimmerer reminds us that it is nature itself who is the true teacher. She is the author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants and Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses. Each print is individually named with a quality that embodies the ways they care for us all. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. "As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent a career learning how to ask questions of nature using the tools of science. Through this symbiotic relationship, the lichen is able to survive in harsh conditions. Today were celebrating Robin Wall Kimmerer, Professor of Environmental Science and Forestry at State University of New York College and citizen of the Potawatomi Nation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Braiding Sweetgrass. This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion on But her native heritage, and the teachings she has received as a conscious student of that heritage, have given her a perspective so far removed from the one the rest of us share that it transforms her experience, and her perception, of the natural world. tags: healing , human , nature , relationship , restoration. Do you have any acquaintances similar to Hazel? She challenges us to deconstruct and reconstruct our perceptions of the natural world, our relationships with our communities, and how both are related to one another. Witness to the rain Download PDF Year: 2011 Publications Type: Book Section Publication Number: 4674 Citation: Kimmerer, Robin W. 2011. Kimmerer reaches a place where shes in tune with nature. What fire within you has proven to be both good and bad? Afterward they want to create a creature who can speak, and so they try to make humans. In addition to this feature event, Sweet Briar is hosting a series of events that complement . Her rich use of metaphor and storytelling make this a nonfiction book that leaves an impression as well as a desire to reflect upon new perspectives. -Graham S. Immigrant culture should appreciate this wisdom, but not appropriate it, Kimmerer says. While the discursive style of, As we struggle to imagine a future not on fire, we are gifted here with an indigenous culture of. If time is measured by the period between events, alder drip time is different from maple drip. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. As Kimmerer writes, "Political action, civic engagement - these are powerful acts of reciprocity with the land." This lesson echoes throughout the entire book so please take it from Kimmerer, and not from me. What creates a strong relationship between people and Earth? Did this chapter change your view on the inner workings of forests? "I close my eyes and listen to the voices of the rain. Get help and learn more about the design. Instant PDF downloads. Which were the most and least effective chapters, in your opinion? What questions would you add to this list? She speaks about each drops path as completely different, interacting with a multitude of organic and inorganic matter along the way, sometimes becoming bigger or smaller, sometimes picking up detritus along the way or losing some of its fullness. The various themes didn't braid together as well as Sweetgrass itself does. . Five stars for the beauty of some of Robin Wall Kimmerer's writing in many essays/chapters. How has this book changed your view of the natural world and relationships? These writing or creative expression promptsmight be used for formal assignments or informal exercises. The belly Button of the World -- Old-Growth Children -- Witness to the Rain -- Burning Sweetgrass -- Windigo Footprints -- The Sacred and the Superfund -- People of Corn, People of . Online Linkage: http://www.wayofnaturalhistory.com/ Related Links Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. In this chapter, Kimmerer recounts a field trip she took with a group of students while she was teaching in the Bible Belt. Maybe there is no such thing as rain; there are only raindrops, each with its own story.. date the date you are citing the material. Water knows this, clouds know this.. The author reflects on how modern botany can be explained through these cultures. Sweetgrass, as the hair of Mother Earth, is traditionally braided to show loving care for her well-being. I don't know what else to say. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Wall Kimmerer draws on her own life experiences and her half North American Indian and half white settler ancestry. In this chapter, Kimmerer describes another field trip to the Cranberry Lake Biological Station, where she teaches an ethnobotany class that entails five weeks of living off the land. Witness to the Rain. Learn more about what Inspired Epicurean has to offer in theabout mesection. Our lifestyle content is crafted to bring eco-friendly and sustainable ideas more mainstream. The ultimate significance of Braiding Sweetgrass is one of introspection; how do we reciprocate the significant gifts from the Earth in a cyclical fashion that promotes sustainability, community, and a sense of belonging? How will they change on their journey? What did you think of the juxtaposition between light and dark? If so, which terms or phrases? Kimmerer begins by affirming the importance of stories: stories are among our most potent tools for restoring the land as well as our relationship to land. Because we are both storytellers and storymakers, paying attention to old stories and myths can help us write the narrative of a better future. We are grateful that the waters are still here and meeting their responsibility to the rest of Creation. 4 Mar. What are your thoughts on the assertion of mutual taming between plants and humans? (Siangu Lakota, b. I'm sure there is still so much I can't see. The gods send disasters to strike them, and they also give the rest of creation their own voices to speak out against their mistreatment. She served as Gallery Director and Curator for the All My Relations Gallery in Minneapolis from 2011-2015. Observe them and work to see them beyond their scientific or everyday names. And we think of it as simply rain, as if it were one thing, as if we understood it. Yes, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Dr. Robin Kimmerer arrived on the New York Times Paperback Best Sellers list on January 31, 2020, six years after its publication. I would have liked to read just about Sweetgrass and the customs surrounding it, to read just about her journey as a Native American scientist and professor, or to read just about her experiences as a mother. She puts itwonderfully in this talk: Its not the land which is broken, but our relationship to the land.. One essay especially, "Allegiance to Gratitude," prompted me to rethink our Christian practices of thanks. I would catch myself arguing with her for idealizing her world view, for ignoring the darker realities of life, and for preaching at me, although I agree with every single thing she advocates. In this chapter, Kimmerer considers the nature of raindrops and the flaws surrounding our human conception of time. These questions may be posed to an entire class, to small groups, to online communities, or as personal reflective prompts. Looking back through the book, pick one paragraph or sentence from each of these sections that for you, capture the essence of the statement that Kimmerer includes in the intro of each section. What can you do to promote restoration over despair? Her writing about the importance of maintaining indigenous language and culture also elicited feelings of tenderness and sadness from me. Kimmerer often muses on how we can live in reciprocity with the land, and gratitude, as our uniquely human gift, is always an important part of this. All rights reserved. Each raindrop will fall individually, its size and. Robin Wall Kimmerer . Do offering ceremonies or rituals exist in your life? [], If there is meaning in the past and the imagined future, it is captured in the moment. For example, Kimmerer calls a spruce tree strong arms covered in moss (p.208) and describes vine maples as a moss-draped dome (296). In the Bible Eve is punished for eating forbidden fruit and God curses her to live as Adam's subordinate according to an article on The Collector. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Earth is but ONE country and all living beings her citizens. When you have all the time in the world, you can spend it, not on going somewhere, but on being where you are. Next they make humans out of wood. In this chapter, Kimmerer discusses Franz Dolps attempts to regenerate an old-growth forest. Kimmerer is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Braiding Sweetgrass addresses a tapestry of relationships that represent a larger, more significant relationship between humans and the environment we call home. Dr. Kimmerer does a fantastic job of shining a spotlight on the intersectionality of traditionally divergent spheres; most specifically, Western scientific methods and Indigenous teachings. The reflecting surface of the pool is textured with their signatures, each one different in pace and resonance. (including. From time to time, we like to collect our favourite quotes, sayings, and statistics about water and share them with readers. As a social scientist myself, I found her nuanced ideas about the relationship between western science and indigenous worldviews compelling. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. It was not until recently that the dikes were removed in an effort to restore the original salt marsh ecosystem. Different animals and how the indigenous people learned from watching them and plants, the trees. In: Fleischner, Thomas L., ed. Quote by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Were you familiar with Carlisle, Pennsylvania prior to this chapter? Enjoy! help you understand the book. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on "a journey . As a Potawatomi woman, she learned from elders, family, and history that the Potawatomi, as well as a majority of other cultures indigenous to this land, consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers. I think that moss knows rain better than we do, and so do maples. If so, how can we apply what we learn to create a reciprocity with the living world? Traditional knowledge represents the outcome of long experimentation . In part to share a potential source of meaning, Kimmerer, who is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and a professor at the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science . . How do you feel community strength relates to our treatment of the environment? Give them a name based on what you see. Mediums and techniques: linoleum engravings printed in linen on both sides. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us. Recall a meaningful gift that youve received at any point in your life.