These people have no gratitude or love within them, however, and they disrespect the rest of creation. During times of plenty, species are able to survive on their own but when conditions become harsh it is only through inter-species reciprocity that they can hope to survive. a material, scientific inventory of the natural world." It invokes the "ancient order of protocols" which "sets gratitude as the highest priority." Everything in the forest seems to blend into everything else, mist, rain, air, stream, branches. In this chapter, Kimmerer recounts a field trip she took with a group of students while she was teaching in the Bible Belt. The Andrews Forest Programprovides science on multiple themes and provides a broader foundation for regional studies. By Robin Kimmerer ; 1,201 total words . The Andrews Forest (AND) Program is part of the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network established by the National Science Foundation. Tending Sweetgrass includes the chapters Maple Sugar Moon, Witch Hazel, A Mothers Work, The Consolation of Water Lilies, and Allegiance to Gratitude. This section more closely explores the bounty of the earth and what it gives to human beings. to explore their many inspiring collections, including the artist we are highlighting in complement to the Buffs One Read Braiding Sweetgrass. 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! Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Without the knowledge of the guide, she'd have walked by these wonders and missed them completely. 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. It gives us knowing, but not caring. Kimmerer reaches a place where shes in tune with nature. We are approaching the end of another section inBraiding Sweetgrass. 2) Look back over the introductory pages for each section"Planting Sweetgrass", "Tending Sweetgrass", Picking Sweetgrass", "Braiding Sweetgrass"for each of these sections Kimmerer includes a short preface statement. The book is simultaneously meditative about the. How would you describe the sensation when you did or did not? Kimmerer describes how the people of the Onondaga Nation begin every gathering with what is often called the "Thanksgiving Address.". eNotes.com, Inc. Kimmerer muses on this story, wondering why the people of corn were the ones who ultimately inherited the earth. Robin Wall Kimmerers book is divided into five sections, titled Planting Sweetgrass, Tending Sweetgrass, Picking Sweetgrass, Braiding Sweetgrass, and Burning Sweetgrass. Each section is titled for a different step in the process of using the plant, sweetgrass, which is one of the four sacred plants esteemed by Kimmerers Potawatomi culture. please join the Buffs OneRead community course: In Witness to the Rain, Kimmerer gives uninterrupted attention to the natural world around her. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. Algae photosynthesizes and thus produces its own nutrients, a form of gathering, while fungi must dissolve other living things in order to harness their acids and enzymes, a form of hunting. In a small chapter towards the end of the book, "Witness to the Rain," Kimmerer notices how the rhythm and tempo of rain failing over land changes markedly from place to place. Maples do their fair share for us; how well do we do by them? What concepts were the most difficult to grasp, if any? This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion on How do we compensate the plants for what weve received? Do you have any acquaintances similar to Hazel? The actual practice of science often means doing this, but the more general scientific worldview of Western society ignores everything that happens in these experiences, aside from the data being collected. Maybe there is no such thing as time; there are only moments, each with its own story. They make the first humans out of mud, but they are ugly and shapeless and soon melt away in the rain. . I must admit I had my reservations about this book before reading it. Do you feel a deeper connection to your local plants now? It was not until recently that the dikes were removed in an effort to restore the original salt marsh ecosystem. The other chapter that captured me is titled Witness to the Rain. Rather than being historical, it is descriptive and meditative. What about the book resonated the most with you? We've designed some prompts to help students, faculty, and all of the CU community to engage with the 2021 Buffs OneRead. Then she listens. 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. tags: healing , human , nature , relationship , restoration. As water professionals, can we look closely enough at the raindrops to learn from them and respect the careful balance of these interactions when we design and build the infrastructure we rely on? Vlog where I reflected daily on one or two chapters: Pros: This non-fiction discusses serious issues regarding the ecology that need to be addressed. These people are compassionate and loving, and they can dance in gratitude for the rest of creation. Can you identify any ceremonies in which you participated, that were about the land, rather than family and culture? Consider the degree of attention you give to the natural world. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Sweetgrass, as the hair of Mother Earth, is traditionally braided to show loving care for her well-being. Kimmerer describes how the lichen unites the two main sources of nourishment: gathering and hunting. The trees act not as individuals, but somehow as a collective. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Director Peter Weir Writers William Kelley (story by) Pamela Wallace (story by) Earl W. Wallace (story by) Stars Harrison Ford They feel like kindred spirits. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two . 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. What fire within you has proven to be both good and bad? Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. First, shes attracted by the way the drops vary in size, shape, and the swiftness of their fall, depending on whether they hang from a twig, the needles of a tree, drooping moss, or her own bangs. This Study Guide consists of approximately 46pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - 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. Noviolencia Integral y su Vigencia en el rea de la Baha, Action to Heal the (Titanic)Nuclear Madness, Astrobiology, Red Stars and the New Renaissance of Humanity. What have you overlooked or taken for granted? Learn how your comment data is processed. Does the act of assigning scientific labels halt exploration? If so, which terms or phrases? Burning Sweetgrass Windigo Footprints The Sacred and the Superfund Collateral Damage . The questionssampled here focus on. Dr. 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. Where will the raindrops land? When was the last time you experienced a meditative moment listening to the rain? Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. It establishes the fact that humans take much from the earth, which gives in a way similar to that of a mother: unconditionally, nearly endlessly. 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 . "Robin Wall Kimmerer is writer of rare grace. Burning Sweetgrass and Epilogue Summary and Analysis, The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. 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. Recall a meaningful gift that youve received at any point in your life. 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. moments of wonder and joy. The way of natural history. (LogOut/ 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. We can almost hear the landbound journey of the raindrops along with her. She writes about the natural world from a place of such abundant passion that one can never quite see the world the same way after having seen it through Kimmerer's eyes. Kimmerer occupies two radically different thought worlds. How do you feel community strength relates to our treatment of the environment? Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. A graceful, illuminating study of the wisdom of the natural world, from a world-renowned indigenous scientist. How much do we love the environment that gives of itself despite our misuse of its resources? What did you think of the concept of the journey of plants relating to the journey of people? However, there is one plant, the broadleaf plantain, sometimes known as the White Mans Footstep, that has assimilated and become somewhat indigenous to place, working with the native plants in symbiosis in order to propagate. The gods send disasters to strike them, and they also give the rest of creation their own voices to speak out against their mistreatment. Prior to its arrival on the New York Times Bestseller List, Braiding Sweetgrass was on the best seller list of its publisher, Milkweed Editions. Can anyone relate to the fleeting African violet? 5 minutes of reading. As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As an American, I don't think my countrypeople appreciate or understand enough about native culture, as a general rule and so I was very grateful for this sort of overview of modern day native life, as well as beautiful stories about the past. For more discussion prompts and facilitation tips,or to join the conversation, please join the Buffs OneRead community course: Braiding Sweetgrass. If not, what obstacles do you face in feeling part of your land? Praise and Prizes over despair. 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. Every drip it seems is changed by its relationship with life, whether it encounters moss or maple or fir bark or my hair. Recent support for White Hawks work has included 2019 United States Artists Fellowship in Visual Art, 2019 Eiteljorg Fellowship for Contemporary Art, 2019 Jerome Hill Artists Fellowship, 2019 Forecast for Public Art Mid-Career Development Grant, 2018 Nancy Graves Grant for Visual Artists, 2017 and 2015 Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Fellowships, 2014 Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters and Sculptors Grant, and 2013/14 McKnight Visual Artist Fellowship. Five stars for the author's honest telling of her growth as a learner and a professor, and the impressions she must have made on college students unaccustomed to observing or interacting with nature. (USA), 2013. 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. This point of view isnt all that radical. When you have all the time in the world, you can spend it, not on going somewhere, but on being where you are. In that environment, says Kimmerer, there was no such thing as alone. "I close my eyes and listen to the voices of the rain. It takes time for fine rain to traverse the scabrous rough surface of an alder leaf. Despairing towards the end of the trip that she had focused too much on scientific graphing of vegetation and too little on the spiritual importance of land, Kimmerer recalls being humbled as the students began to sing Amazing Grace. Otherwise, consider asking these ten questions in conjunction with the chapter-specific questions for a deeper discussion. know its power in many formswaterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans, snow and ice. I suppose thats the way we are as humans, thinking too much and listening too little. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. "Witness to the Rain" is the final chapter of the "Braiding Sweetgrass" section of RWK's beautiful book. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Written from a native American point of view, Braiding Sweetgrass (2013) is one of the most unusual books Ive read. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Listening to rain, time disappears. I read this book in a book club, and one of the others brought some braided Sweetgrass to our meeting. 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. What have you overlooked or taken for granted? 1) Bring some homage to rainit can be a 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! I read this book almost like a book of poetry, and it was a delightful one to sip and savor. Through this anecdote, Kimmerer reminds us that it is nature itself who is the true teacher. The Earth is providing many valuable gifts for us, including fresh air, water, lands and many more natural resources to keep us alive. How can we create our own stories (or lenses) to view sacred relationships? Christelle Enault is an artist and illustrator based in Paris. 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.". Her writing blends her academic botantical scientific learning with that of the North American indigenous way of life, knowledge and wisdom, with a capital W. She brings us fair and square to our modus operandi of live for today . Yet we also have another human gift, language, another of our, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. It was heartbreaking to realize my nearly total disconnection from the earth, and painful to see the world again, slowly and in pieces. In In the Footsteps of Nanabozho: Becoming Indigenous to Place, Kimmerer compares Nanabozhos journey to the arrival of immigrant plants carried from the Old World and rehabilitated in American soil. Kimmerer is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. . Artist Tony Drehfal is a wood engraver, printmaker, and photographer. The drop swells on the tip of the of a cedar and I catch in on my tongue like a blessing. Each raindrop will fall individually, its size and. 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 did you think of the Pledge of Interdependence? If so, how can we apply what we learn to create a reciprocity with the living world? What is the significance of Braiding Sweetgrass? This quote from the chapter "Witness to the Rain", comes from a meditation during a walk in the rain through the forest. Struggling with distance learning? What's a summary of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Kimmerer combines the indigenous wisdom shes learned over the years with her scientific training to find a balance between systems-based thinking and more thorny points of ethics that need to be considered if we want to meet the needs of every individual in a community. Alex Murdaugh's sentence came down Friday, after a jury took less than three hours Thursday to convict him in his family's murders. Then I would find myself thinking about something the author said, decide to give the book another try, read a couple of essays, etc. Instead, settler society should write its own story of relationship to the world, creating its own. 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 . Already a member? Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. (Siangu Lakota, b. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. I wish Robin Wall Kimmerer had written three short books instead of one long book. By paying attention we acknowledge that we have something to learn from intelligences other than our own. What were your thoughts surrounding the Original Instructions?. (LogOut/ Get help and learn more about the design. Why or why not? How do you show gratitude in your daily life; especially to the Earth? 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. 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 old forest, a result of thousands of years of ecological fine-tuning, and home to an incredible variety of life forms, does not grow back by itself; it has to be planted. Her book reachedanother impressive milestone last weekwhen Kimmerer received a MacArthur genius grant. It also means that her books organizational principles are not ones were accustomed to, so instead of trying to discern them in an attempt to outline the book, I will tell you about the two chapters that left the deepest impression. Dr. Kimmerer has taught courses in botany, ecology, ethnobotany, indigenous environmental issues as well as a seminar in application of traditional ecological knowledge to conservation. Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerers "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants," is a beautiful and thoughtful gift to those of us even the least bit curious about understanding the land and living in healthy reciprocity with the environment that cares for us each day. Is it possible that plants have domesticated us? How does the story of Skywoman compare to the other stories of Creation? Did the Depression-era reference hit home with you? Rare, unless you measure time like a river. This article highlights the findings of the literature on aboriginal fire from the human- and the land-centered disciplines, and suggests that the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples be incorporated into plans for reintroducing fire to the nation's forests. Dr. Kimmerer invites us to view our surroundings through a new lens; perhaps a lens we should have been using all along. 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 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. Witness to the Rain. I'm sure there is still so much I can't see. Through storytelling and metaphor, Braiding Sweetgrass is a nonfiction work that reads as a love letter to the natural world. San Antonio, TX: Trinity University Press: 187-195. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Is it possible to stay quiet long enough to hear/learn? As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.". The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Indigenous Wisdom and Scientific Knowledge. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Braiding Sweetgrass. Are there aspects of a Windigo within each of us? 380 Words2 Pages Summary The article "Returning the Gift" that written by Robin Kimmerer has discussed the importance of having our appreciations for nature. Dr. Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer (also credited as Robin W. Kimmerer) (born 1953) is Associate Professor of Environmental and Forest Biology at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF). That's why Robin Wall Kimmerer, a scientist, author and Citizen Potawatomi Nation member, says it's necessary to complement Western scientific knowledge with traditional Indigenous wisdom. She then relates the Mayan creation story. Her book draws not only on the inherited wisdom of Native Americans, but also on the knowledge Western science has accumulated about plants. in the sand, but because joy. Kimmerer writes about a gift economy and the importance of gratitude and reciprocity. Braiding Sweetgrass explores the theme of cooperation, considering ways in which different entities can thrive by working in harmony and thereby forming a sense of mutual belonging. She has participated in residencies in Australia and Russia and Germany. So I stretch out, close my eyes, and listen to the rain. 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. Robin Wall Kimmerer . These Braiding Sweetgrass book club questions are intended to be used as discussion points post-reading, and not a guide during the reading itself. October 6, 2021 / janfalls. The story focuses on the central role of the cattail plant, which can fulfill a variety of human needs, as the students discover.