What questions would you add to this list? When was the last time you experienced a meditative moment listening to the rain? Were you familiar with Carlisle, Pennsylvania prior to this chapter? Throughout the three-day field trip, Kimmerer was anxious to help the students forge a greater connection with nature and moved through a checklist of ecological sights without evoking much awe from her captive audience. The reflecting surface of the pool is textured with their signatures, each one different in pace and resonance. Science is a painfully tight pair of shoes. 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! 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 . 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. How much do we love the environment that gives of itself despite our misuse of its resources? Visit the CU Art Museum to explore their many inspiring collections, including the artist we are highlighting in complement to the Buffs One Read Braiding Sweetgrass. Next they make humans out of wood. The gods send disasters to strike them, and they also give the rest of creation their own voices to speak out against their mistreatment. By the 1850s, Western pioneers saw fit to drain the wetlands that supported the salmon population in order to create more pasture for their cattle. 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? Five stars for the beauty of some of Robin Wall Kimmerer's writing in many essays/chapters. These writing or creative expression promptsmight be used for formal assignments or informal exercises. San Antonio, TX: Trinity University Press: 187-195. 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 . What are your thoughts concerning indigenous agriculture in contrast to Western agriculture? The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Kimmerer, Robin Wall. Word Count: 1124. 380 Words2 Pages Summary The article "Returning the Gift" that written by Robin Kimmerer has discussed the importance of having our appreciations for nature. In Old-Growth Children Kimmerer tells how Franz Dolp, an economics professor, spent the last part of his life trying to restore a forest in the Oregon Coastal Range. Book Synopsis. Kimmerer believes that the connections in the natural world are there for us to listen to if were ready to hear them. "I close my eyes and listen to the voices of the rain. Welcome! 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. 2023 . She imagines writing and storytelling as an act of reciprocity with the living land, as we attempt to become like the people of corn and create new stories about our relationship to the world. I also loved learning about the plants she mentions, and feel quite relieved to know that the proper pronunciation of pecan is peh-cahn, and not at all related to a way one might relieve themselves in the woods. Would you consider re-reading 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. The trees act not as individuals, but somehow as a collective. 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. Yet, this list of qualities could go on and on and each person carries multiple roles. This Study Guide consists of approximately 46pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - The series Takes Care of Us honors native women and the care, protection, leadership and love the provide for their communities. 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. It takes time for fine rain to traverse the scabrous rough surface of an alder leaf. The drop swells on the tip of the of a cedar and I catch in on my tongue like a blessing. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. date the date you are citing the material. In the world view that structures her book the relations between human and plant are likewise reciprocal and filled with caring. This makes the story both history, ongoing process, and prophecy of the future. Give your attention to the plants and natural elements around you. Sshhhhh from rain, pitpitpit from hemlock, bloink from maple and lastly popp of falling alder water. In. Cheers! We've designed some prompts to help students, faculty, and all of the CU community to engage with the 2021 Buffs OneRead. If you're interested in even more Braiding Sweetgrass book club questions, I highly recommend these discussion questions (best reviewed after reading the book) from Longwood Gardens. She is represented by. 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. 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. Braiding Sweetgrass is a nonfiction work of art by Dr. Robin Kimmerer. I wish Robin Wall Kimmerer had written three short books instead of one long book. The Earth is providing many valuable gifts for us, including fresh air, water, lands and many more natural resources to keep us alive. The book the President should read, that all of us who care about the future of the planet should read, is Robin Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass. 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. Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass. We are showered every day with the gifts of the Earth, gifts we have neither earned nor paid for: air to breathe, nurturing rain, black soil, berries and honeybees, the tree that became this page, a bag of rice and the exuberance of a field of goldenrod and asters at full bloom. If your book club is about to read "Braiding Sweetgrass" and has limited time for discussion, consider sticking with these ten general questions that are intended to instigate conversation about the book as a whole. As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. I'm so glad I finally read this book for the Book Cougars/Reading Envy joint readalong. In "Braiding Sweetgrass," she weaves Indigenous wisdom with her scientific training. I was intimated going into it (length, subject I am not very familiar with, and the hype this book has) but its incredibly accessible and absolutely loved up to the seemingly unanimous five star ratings. The Earth is but ONE country and all living beings her citizens. . What are your first thoughts when you hear the word environmentalism?. What are your thoughts on the assertion of mutual taming between plants and humans? Robin Wall Kimmerer . All rights reserved. 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. In 2013, Braiding Sweetgrass was written by Robin Wall Kimmerer. For example, Kimmerer calls a spruce tree strong arms covered in moss (p.208) and describes vine maples as a moss-draped dome (296). Recall a meaningful gift that youve received at any point in your life. Kimmerer also brings up how untouched land is now polluted and forgotten, how endangered species need to be protected, how we can take part in caring for nature, especially during the climate crisis that we are currently experiencing and have caused due to our carelessness and lack of concern for other species. 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. 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 . The address, she writes, is "a river of words as old as the people themselves, known more . It edges up the toe slope to the forest, a wide unseen river that flows beneath the eddies and the splash. Many of her arguments rely on this concept of honour, which is what she thinks weve abandoned in our publicpolicies. Copyright 20112022 Andrews Forest Program. Which were the most and least effective chapters, in your opinion? What did you think of the juxtaposition between light and dark? How did the explanation of circular time affect your perception of stories, history, and the concept of time in which you are most familiar? Maybe there is no such thing as rain; there are only raindrops, each with its own story.. This point of view isnt all that radical. The other chapter that captured me is titled Witness to the Rain. Rather than being historical, it is descriptive and meditative. [Illustration offered as an anonymous gift :-)]. I really enjoyed this. In this chapter, Kimmerer considers the nature of raindrops and the flaws surrounding our human conception of time. 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. This chapter focuses on a species of lichen called Umbilicaria, which is technically not one organism but two: a symbiotic marriage between algae and fungi. It teaches the reader so many things about plants and nature in general. tags: healing , human , nature , relationship , restoration. How Human People Are Only One Manifestation of Intelligence In theUniverse. 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. Even a wounded world is feeding us. After reading the book, what do you find yourself curious about? Reflecting on the book, have your perspectives, views, or beliefs shifted? Kimmerer explores the inextricable link between old-growth forests and the old-growth cultures that grew alongside them and highlights how one cannot be restored without the other. Did you recognize yourself or your experiences in it? We are grateful that the waters are still here and meeting their responsibility to the rest of Creation. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. 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. Kimmerer, Robin Wall Summary "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. She is the author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants and Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses.She lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental . This chapter centers around an old Indigenous tradition wherein the people greeted the Salmon returning to their streams by burning large swathes of prairie land at Cascade Head. Through storytelling and metaphor, Braiding Sweetgrass is a nonfiction work that reads as a love letter to the natural world. Consider the degree of attention you give to the natural world. 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. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. What have you overlooked or taken for granted? Her book draws not only on the inherited wisdom of Native Americans, but also on the knowledge Western science has accumulated about plants. 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. As she says: We are all bound by a covenant of reciprocity: plant breath for animal breath, winter and summer, predator and prey, grass and fire, night and day, living and dying. As a botanist and indigenous person you'd think this would be right up my alley, but there was something about the description that made it sound it was going to be a lot of new-age spiritual non-sense, and it was a bit of that, but mostly I was pleasantly surprised that it was a more "serious" book than I thought it'd be. tis is how they learned to survive, when they had little. Witness to the Rain Robin Wall Kimmerer | Last.fm Search Live Music Charts Log In Sign Up Robin Wall Kimmerer Witness to the Rain Love this track More actions Listeners 9 Scrobbles 11 Join others and track this song Scrobble, find and rediscover music with a Last.fm account Sign Up to Last.fm Lyrics Add lyrics on Musixmatch They feel like kindred spirits. help you understand the book. As immigrants, are we capable of loving the land as if we were indigenous to it? If so, how? A deep invisible river, known to roots and rocks, the water and the land intimate beyond our knowing. As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. Maples do their fair share for us; how well do we do by them? Is it possible to stay quiet long enough to hear/learn? If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original 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. How does one go about exploring their own relationship with nature? Witness to the Rain. Listening, standing witness, creates an openness to the world in which the boundaries between us can dissolve in a raindrop. 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. But just two stars for the repetitive themes, the disorganization of the book as a whole, the need for editing and shortening in many places. In this chapter, Kimmerer recounts a field trip she took with a group of students while she was teaching in the Bible Belt. Braids plated of three strands, are given away as signs of kindness and gratitude. date the date you are citing the material. 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. Burning Sweetgrass and Epilogue Summary and Analysis, The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. If so, how can we apply what we learn to create a reciprocity with the living world? A wonderfully written nonfiction exploring indigenous culture and diaspora, appreciating nature, and what we can do to help protect and honor the land we live upon. What are your thoughts regarding the concepts of: The destruction resulting from convenience, Do you agree with the idea that killing a who evokes a different response from humans than killing an it?. Does your perception of food change when you consider how food arrived at your table; specifically, a forced removal vs. garden nurturing? 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. She puts itwonderfully in this talk: Its not the land which is broken, but our relationship to the land.. In the story, the first divine beings, or gods, create plants and animals to fill the emptiness. Kimmerer closes by describing the Indigenous idea that each part of creation has its own unique gift, like a bird with its song. The Andrews Forest (AND) Program is part of the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network established by the National Science Foundation. But they're gifts, too. Read it. 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. . Her first book, published in 2003, was the natural and cultural history book Gathering . Its messagekeepsreaching new people, having been translated so far into nearly 20 languages. Kimmerer describes the entire lifecycle of this intriguing creature to emphasize how tragic it is when their lives are ended so abruptly and randomly by passing cars. over despair. She has participated in residencies in Australia and Russia and Germany.