The fish-eye lens gives me a giant forehead and tiny ears. . This quote from the chapter Witness to the Rain, comes from a meditation during a walk in the rain through the forest. In the Indigenous worldview, however, humans are seen as the younger brothers of Creation who must learn from those who were here before us: the plants and animals, who have their own kinds of intelligence and knowledge. I think that moss knows rain better than we do, and so do maples. 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 . Instant PDF downloads. Please enter your email address to subscribe to this blog if you would like to receive notifications of new posts by email. Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of "Braiding Sweetgrass" Sweet Briar College is thrilled to welcome Robin Wall Kimmerer on March 23, 2022, for a special in-person (and livestream) presentation on her book "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants.". Kimmerer imagines a kind of science in which people saw plants as teachers rather than as objects to be experimented on. Elsewhere the rain on . Oh my goodness, what an absolutely gorgeous book with possibly the best nature writing I've ever read. Her book of personal observations about nature and our relationship to it,Braiding Sweetgrass, Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants,has been on theNYTimes bestseller list as a paperback for an astounding 130 weeks. From Braiding Sweetgras s by author, ethnobotanist, and biologist Robin Wall Kimmerer, of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation: "Our old farm is within the ancestral homelands of the Onondaga Nation, and their reserve lies a few ridges to the west of my hilltop. The completed legacy of colonialism is further explored in the chapter Putting Down Roots, where Kimmerer reflects that restoration of native plants and cultures is one path towards reconciliation. Listening, standing witness, creates an openness to the world in which the boundaries between us can dissolve in a raindrop. The questionssampled here focus onreader experience and connection. Afterward they want to create a creature who can speak, and so they try to make humans. Robin Kimmerers relation to nature delighted and amazed me, and at the same time plunged me into envy and near despair. tags: healing , human , nature , relationship , restoration. Already a member? moments of wonder and joy. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. What creates a strong relationship between people and Earth? Kimmerer, Robin W. 2011. Parts of it are charming and insightful. Does your perception of food change when you consider how food arrived at your table; specifically, a forced removal vs. garden nurturing? Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Note what the gods valued most in the people of corn: their ability to be grateful and to live in community with each other and the earth itself. I think that moss knows rain better than we do, and so do maples. What can we offer the environment that supplies us with so much? Braiding Sweetgrass Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. From time to time, we like to collect our favourite quotes, sayings, and statistics about water and share them with readers. Ed. San Antonio, TX: Trinity University Press: 187-195. Traditional knowledge represents the outcome of long experimentation . The reflecting surface of the pool is textured with their signatures, each one different in pace and resonance. Take some time to walk about campus or some other natural space. When a young Amish boy is sole witness to a murder while visiting Philadelphia with his mother, police detective John Book tries to protect the boy until an attempt on Book's life forces him into hiding in Amish country. She highlights that at the beginning of his journey, Nanabozho was an immigrant, arriving at an earth already fully populated with plants and animals, but by the end of his journey, Nanabozho has found a sense of belonging on Turtle Island. I must admit I had my reservations about this book before reading it. Online Linkage: http://www.wayofnaturalhistory.com/ Related Links They make the first humans out of mud, but they are ugly and shapeless and soon melt away in the rain. One of my goals this year was to read more non-fiction, a goal I believe I accomplished. What did you think of the juxtaposition between light and dark? Get help and learn more about the design. Braiding Sweetgrass is a nonfiction work of art by Dr. Robin Kimmerer. How can we refrain from interfering with the sacred purpose of another being? Kimmerer criticizes those who gatekeep science from the majority of people through the use of technical language, itself a further form of exclusion through the scientific assumption that humans are disconnected from and above other living things. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Water knows this, clouds know this.. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Her book draws not only on the inherited wisdom of Native Americans, but also on the knowledge Western science has accumulated about plants. Which were the most and least effective chapters, in your opinion? Her students conducted a study showing that in areas where sweetgrass was harvested wisely (never take more than half) it returned the following year thicker and stronger. I read this book almost like a book of poetry, and it was a delightful one to sip and savor. Does the act of assigning scientific labels halt exploration? Drew Lanhamrender possibilities for becoming better kin and invite us into the ways . Ms. Kimmerer explains in her book that the Thanksgiving Address is "far more than a pledge, a prayer or a poem alone," it is "at heart an invocation of gratitude . This book has taught me so much, hopefully changed me for the better forever. If so, how can we apply what we learn to create a reciprocity with the living world? I share delicious vegan recipes (with a few flexitarian recipes from my pre-vegan days). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It takes time for fine rain to traverse the scabrous rough surface of an alder leaf. He did so in a forty-acre plot of land where the old-growth forests had been destroyed by logging operations since the 1880s. She is the co-founder and past president of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge section of the Ecological Society of America. The last date is today's Next the gods make people out of pure sunlight, who are beautiful and powerful, but they too lack gratitude and think themselves equal to the gods, so the gods destroy them as well. Abstract. In this chapter, Kimmerer discusses the legacy of Indian boarding schools, such as Carlisle, and some of the measures that are being taken to reverse the damage caused by forcible colonial assimilation. Even a wounded world is feeding us. The chapters therein are Windigo Footprints, The Sacred and the Superfund, People of Corn, People of Light, Collateral Damage, Shkitagen: People of the Seventh Fire, Defeating Windigo, and Epilogue. These chapters paint an apocalyptic picture of the environmental destruction occurring around the world today and urge the reader to consider ways in which this damage can be stemmed. Through this symbiotic relationship, the lichen is able to survive in harsh conditions. What can benefit from the merging of worlds, like the intersection of Western science and Indigenous teachings? Read the Epilogue of Braiding Sweetgrass, Returning the Gift. She is the author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants.Kimmerer lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology and the founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples . Kimmerer lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology and the founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment. Kimmerer has often pointed out the importance of direct experience with the land and other living things. These people are beautiful, strong, and clever, and they soon populate the earth with their children. Consider the degree of attention you give to the natural world. In the following chapter, Umbilicaria: The Belly Button of the World, Kimmerer sees the fungialgae relationship as a model for human survival as a species. Summary/Review: "An inspired weaving of indigenous knowledge, plant science, and personal narrative from a distinguished professor of science and a Native American whose previous book, Gathering Moss, was awarded the John Burroughs Medal for outstanding nature writing. In areas where it was ignored, it came back reduced in quantity, thus bearing out the Native American saying: Take care of the land and the land will take care of you.. It is informative about Native American history, beliefs, and culture. Even the earth, shes learned from a hydrologist, is mixed with water, in something called the hyporheic flow.. So let's do two things, please, in prep for Wednesday night conversation: 1) Bring some homage to rainit can bea memory of your most memorable experience ever walking in the rain, listening to rainfall, staying inside by a fire while it rained, etc.or a poem or piece of prose that captures something you feel about rainor a haiku you write tomorrow morning over your coffeeor best of all, a potent rain dance! What problems does Kimmerer identify and what solutions does she propose in Braiding Sweetgrass? What literary devices are used in Braiding Sweetgrass? What did you think of Robins use of movement as metaphor and time? . Through storytelling and metaphor, Braiding Sweetgrass is a nonfiction work that reads as a love letter to the natural world. Adapting Fearlessness, Nonviolence, Anarchy and Humility in the 21st century. Her first book, published in 2003, was the natural and cultural history book Gathering . A deep invisible river, known to roots and rocks, the water and the land intimate beyond our knowing. She is the co-founder and past president of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge section of the Ecological Society of America. It is a book that explores the connection between living things and human efforts to cultivate a more sustainable world through the lens of indigenous traditions. Privacy | Do not sell my personal information | Cookie preferences | Report noncompliance | Terms of use| 2022 Autodesk Inc. All rights reserved, Braiding Sweetgrass, Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants. So I stretch out, close my eyes, and listen to the rain. Dr. Why or why not? The series Takes Care of Us honors native women and the care, protection, leadership and love the provide for their communities. Throughout his decades-long journey to restore the land to its former glory, Dolp came to realize the parallel importance of restoring his personal relationship to land. How does Kimmerer use myths to illustrate her ideas in Braiding Sweetgrass? Why? Finally, the gods make people out of ground corn meal. It asks whether human beings are capable of being mothers too, and whether this feminine generosity can be reciprocated in a way which is meaningful to the planet. In the world view that structures her book the relations between human and plant are likewise reciprocal and filled with caring. Tragically, the Native people who upheld this sacred tradition were decimated by diseases such as smallpox and measles in the 1830s. Visualize an element of the natural world and write a letter of appreciation and observation. Kimmerer combines these elements with a powerfully poetic voice that begs for the return to a restorative and sustainable relationship between people and nature. Kimmerer describes how the lichen unites the two main sources of nourishment: gathering and hunting. She thinks its all about restoration: We need acts of restoration, not only for polluted waters and degraded lands, but also for our relationship to the world. Author: Kimmerer, Robin Wall Additional Titles: . Ask some questions & start a conversation about the Buffs OneRead. Quote by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us. The author reflects on how modern botany can be explained through these cultures. Kimmerer traces this theme by looking at forest restoration, biological models of symbiosis, the story of Nanabozho, her experiences of teaching ethnobotany, and other topics. Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass. publication online or last modification online. Witness to the rain. It offered them a rich earthly existence and their culture mirrored this generosity by giving their goods away in the potlatch ceremony, imitating nature in their way of life. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. I had no idea how much I needed this book until I read it. This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion on I don't know how to talk about this book. When Kimmerer moves herself and her daughters to upstate New York, one of the responsibilities that she decides to take is to provide her daughters with a swimmable pond. In 2013, Braiding Sweetgrass was written by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Kimmerer muses on this story, wondering why the people of corn were the ones who ultimately inherited the earth. Braids plated of three strands, are given away as signs of kindness and gratitude. She asks this question as she tells the stories of Native American displacement, which forever changed the lives of her . Can you identify any ceremonies in which you participated, that were about the land, rather than family and culture? Picking Sweetgrass includes the chapters Epiphany in the Beans, The Three Sisters, Wisgaak Gokpenagen: A Black Ash Basket, Mishkos Kenomagwen: The Teachings of Grass, Maple Nation: A Citizenship Guide, and The Honorable Harvest. This section dwells on the responsibilities attendant on human beings in relation to the earth, after Kimmerer already establishes that the earth does give gifts to humanity and that gifts are deserving of reciprocal giving. This book contains one exceptional essay that I would highly recommend to everyone, "The Sacred and the Superfund." Her use of vibrant metaphor captures emotion in such a way that each chapter leaves us feeling ready to roll up our sleeves and reintroduce ourselves to the backyard, apartment garden, or whatever bit of greenspace you have in your area. What gifts do you feel you can offer Mother Earth? eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Maybe there is no such thing as rain; there are only raindrops, each with its own story.. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The various themes didn't braid together as well as Sweetgrass itself does. 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. "Witness to the Rain" is the final chapter of the "Braiding Sweetgrass" section of RWK's beautiful book. Why or why not? What would you gather along the path towards the future? She is wrong. By paying attention we acknowledge that we have something to learn from intelligences other than our own. The source of all that they needed, from cradleboards to coffins, it provided them with materials for boats and houses, for clothing and baskets, for bowls and hats, utensils and fishing rods, line and ropes. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. This was a wonderful, wonderful book. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. How do you feel about solidity as an illusion? Then she listens. Science is a painfully tight pair of shoes. "Braiding Sweetgrass - Braiding Sweetgrass Summary and Analysis" eNotes Publishing Learn more about what Inspired Epicurean has to offer in theabout mesection. How has your view of plants changed from reading this chapter? The trees act not as individuals, but somehow as a collective. She is the author of numerous scientific articles, and the book Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses. Do you feel we have created an imbalance with our symbiotic relationship with Earth? If not, what obstacles do you face in feeling part of your land? Specifically, this chapter highlights how it is more important to focus on growing a brighter future for the following generations rather than seeking revenge for the wrongs suffered by previous generations. I want to feel what the cedars feel and know what they know. The Andrews Forest Programprovides science on multiple themes and provides a broader foundation for regional studies. Witness to the Rain. What did you think of the Pledge of Interdependence? Kimmerer closes by describing the Indigenous idea that each part of creation has its own unique gift, like a bird with its song. How does Kimmerer use plants to illustrate her ideas in Braiding Sweetgrass? When we take from the land, she wants us to insist on an honourable harvest, whether were taking a single vegetable for sustenance or extracting minerals from the land. Five stars for the beauty of some of Robin Wall Kimmerer's writing in many essays/chapters. I choose joy. In this chapter Kimmerer again looks toward a better future, but a large part of that is learning from the past, in this case mythology from the Mayan people of Central America. What were your thoughts on the structure of the book and the metaphor of sweetgrass life cycle? . Did you Google any concepts or references? Braiding sweetgrass : indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants / Robin Wall Kimmerer. Here in the rainforest, I dont want to just be a bystander to rain, passive and protected; I want to be part of the downpour, to be soaked, along with the dark humus that squishes underfoot. . Consider the degree of attention you give to the natural world. I really enjoyed this. The idea for this suite of four dresses came from the practice of requesting four veterans to stand in each cardinal direction for protection when particular ceremonies are taking place. In "Braiding Sweetgrass," she weaves Indigenous wisdom with her scientific training. 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. I suppose thats the way we are as humans, thinking too much and listening too little. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs . eNotes.com Is it possible that plants have domesticated us? The Earth is but ONE country and all living beings her citizens. In Braiding. Did you find the outline structure of the chapter effective? The way of natural history. Did you recognize yourself or your experiences in it? Next they make humans out of wood. date the date you are citing the material. Throughout five sections that mirror the important lifecycle of sweetgrass, Dr. Kimmerer unfolds layers of Indigenous wisdom that not only captures the attention of the reader, but also challenges the perspectives of Western thought in a beautiful and passionate way. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. Kimmerer again affirms the importance of the entire experience, which builds a relationship and a sense of humility. I felt euphoric inhaling the intense fragrance, and truly understood why the author would name a book after this plant. Kimmerer's claim with second and even third thoughts about the contradic-tions inherent in notions of obligation that emerge in the receiving of gifts. 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.