Do you feel a deeper connection to your local plants now? Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Did you find this chapter poetic? The following questions are divided by section and chapter, and can stand independently or as a group. Witness to the Rain. Wall Kimmerer draws on her own life experiences and her half North American Indian and half white settler ancestry. 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). 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. 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. -by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Nov 24 2017) However alluring the thought of warmth, there is no substitute for standing in the rain to waken every sensesenses that are muted within four walls, where my attention would be on me, instead of all that is more than me. Not because I have my head. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the over despair. Braiding sweetgrass - Penn State University Libraries Catalog The trees act not as individuals, but somehow as a collective. Oh my goodness, what an absolutely gorgeous book with possibly the best nature writing I've ever read. These questions may be posed to an entire class, to small groups, to online communities, or as personal reflective prompts. What ceremonies are important to you, and serve as an opportunity to channel attention into intention? The Skywoman story, shared by the original people's throughout the Greak Lakes, is a constant star in the constellation of teachings we call the Original Instructions. When you have all the time in the world, you can spend it, not on going somewhere, but on being where you are. 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. Her writing about the importance of maintaining indigenous language and culture also elicited feelings of tenderness and sadness from me. What literary devices are used in Braiding Sweetgrass? Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Christelle Enault is an artist and illustrator based in Paris. Want more Water Words of Wisdom? Dr. She served as Gallery Director and Curator for the All My Relations Gallery in Minneapolis from 2011-2015. Rather, we each bear a responsibility to gain understanding of the land in which we live and how its beauty is much greater than a blooming tree or manicured lawn. Braiding Sweetgrass. Visualize an element of the natural world and write a letter of appreciation and observation. As stated before, an important aspect of culture is its creation myths. 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. Kimmerer muses on this story, wondering why the people of corn were the ones who ultimately inherited the earth. 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. But Kimmerer's intention is not to hone a concept of obligation via theoretical discussions from a distance but rather to witness its inauguration close up and How can we refrain from interfering with the sacred purpose of another being? Witness to the rain | Andrews Forest Research Program But they're gifts, too. "Braiding Sweetgrass - Braiding Sweetgrass Summary and Analysis" eNotes Publishing If not, what obstacles do you face in feeling part of your land? 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 . 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. Rather than seeing the forest as a commodity to be harvested for profit, the Salish Indians who had lived in the Pacific Northwest for thousands of years preserved the forest intact. Instant PDF downloads. 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. Skywoman and Her Lessons - Climate Justice is Racial Justice What can benefit from the merging of worlds, like the intersection of Western science and Indigenous teachings? This forest is textured with different kinds of time, as the surface of the pool is dimpled with different kinds of rain. The questionssampled here focus on. Braiding sweetgrass : Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the Why or why not? This story is usually read as a history, but Kimmerer reminds the reader that in many Indigenous cultures time is not linear but rather circular. ", University of Colorado Boulder Libraries, Buffs One Read 2022-2023: Braiding Sweetgrass, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdome Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants. Do any specific plants bring you comfort and connection? People who lived in the old-growth forest belonged to a community of beings that included humans, plants, and animals who were interdependent and equal. "As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent . Would you consider re-reading Braiding Sweetgrass? Last Updated on March 23, 2021, by eNotes Editorial. Tragically, the Native people who upheld this sacred tradition were decimated by diseases such as smallpox and measles in the 1830s. Does the act of assigning scientific labels halt exploration? That is the significance of Dr. Kimmerers Braiding Sweetgrass.. Yet we also have another human gift, language, another of our, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Because she made me wish that I could be her, that my own life could have been lived as fully, as close to nature, and as gratefully as hers. -Graham S. Immigrant culture should appreciate this wisdom, but not appropriate it, Kimmerer says. Woven Ways of Knowing | Open Rivers Journal 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. Rare, unless you measure time like a river. Teachers and parents! Dr. She relates the idea that the, In Witness to the Rain, Kimmerer noted that everything exists only in relationship to something else, and here she describes corn as a living relationship between light, water, the land, and people. Maybe there is no such thing as rain; there are only raindrops, each with its own story. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. The reflecting surface of the pool is textured with their signatures, each one different in pace and resonance. 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. From his land, Dolp can see the remains of an old-growth forest on top of a nearby peak, the rest of the view being square patches of Douglas fir the paper companies had planted alternating with clear cut fields. Both seek to combine their scientific, technical training with the feeling of connectedness and wholeness they get from being immersed by nature to bring about a more balanced way of living with the land. So I stretch out, close my eyes, and listen to the rain. . What were your thoughts on the structure of the book and the metaphor of sweetgrass life cycle? 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 question was asked of a popular fiction writer who took not a moment's thought before saying, my own of course. However alluring the thought of warmth, there is no substitute for standing in the rain to waken every sensesenses that are muted within four walls, where my attention would be on me, instead of all that is more than me. She is the co-founder and past president of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge section of the Ecological Society of America. Learn more about what Inspired Epicurean has to offer in theabout mesection. 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). 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. "Burning Sweetgrass" is the final section of this book. Kinship With The More Than Human World - To The Best Of Our Knowledge "Witness to the Rain" The Christuman Way Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations is a five-volume series exploring our deep interconnections with the living world and the interdependence that exists between humans and nonhuman beings. In her talk, she references another scientist and naturalist weve covered before,Aldo Leopold. I read this book almost like a book of poetry, and it was a delightful one to sip and savor. I choose joy. In fact, these "Braiding Sweetgrass" book club questions are intended to help in the idea generation for solutions to problems highlighted in the book, in addition to an analysis of our own relationship with our community and the Earth. moments of wonder and joy. She asks this question as she tells the stories of Native American displacement, which forever changed the lives of her . 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. 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. She is the author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants.She has BS in Botany from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry as well as a MS and PhD from the University of Wisconsin. This quote from the chapter "Witness to the Rain", comes from a meditation during a walk in the rain through the forest. 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. Living out of balance with the natural world can have grave ecological consequences, as evidenced by the current climate change crisis. Ancient Green - Robin Wall Kimmerer - Emergence Magazine Braiding Sweetgrass a book by Robin Wall Kimmerer As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. Braiding Sweetgrass Book Club Questions - Inspired Epicurean 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. Did you recognize yourself or your experiences in it? Cheers! Braiding Sweetgrass - Google Books If there is one book you would want the President to read this year, what would it be? Robin Wall Kimmerer from the her bookBraiding Sweetgrass. Burning Sweetgrass and Epilogue Summary and Analysis, The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. This makes the story both history, ongoing process, and prophecy of the future. Kimmerer has often pointed out the importance of direct experience with the land and other living things. She is wrong. What have you worked hard for, like tapping maples? The questionssampled here focus onreader experience and connection. They feel like kindred spirits. (PDF) Rhythms of Relational Time: Indigenous philosophy in dialogue PDF Allegiance to Gratitude - Swarthmore College From his origins as a real estate developer to his incarnation as Windigo-in-Chief, he has regarded "public lands"our forests, grasslands, rivers, national parks, wildlife reservesall as a warehouse of potential commodities to be sold to the highest bidder. What did you think of the Pledge of Interdependence? The other chapter that captured me is titled Witness to the Rain. Rather than being historical, it is descriptive and meditative. I really enjoyed this. As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. After reading the book, what do you find yourself curious about? Her work is in the collections of the Denver Art Museum, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Tweed Museum of Art, IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, Akta Lakota Museum among other public and private collections. 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?. Inside looking out, I could not bear the loneliness of being dry in a wet world. Water knows this, clouds know this.. How did this change or reinforce your understanding of gifts and gift-giving? 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. Her book draws not only on the inherited wisdom of Native Americans, but also on the knowledge Western science has accumulated about plants. Mediums and techniques: linoleum engravings printed in linen on both sides. Welcome! It is hyporheic flow that Im listening for. We've designed some prompts to help students, faculty, and all of the CU community to engage with the 2021 Buffs OneRead. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. This is an important and a beautiful book. 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. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the 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. Robin Wall Kimmerer: 'People can't understand the world as a gift In "Witness to the Rain," Kimmerer noted that everything exists only in relationship to something else, and here she describes corn as a living relationship between light, water, the land, and people. 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. I don't know what else to say. Does your perception of food change when you consider how food arrived at your table; specifically, a forced removal vs. garden nurturing? How can we create our own stories (or lenses) to view sacred relationships? 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. In: Fleischner, Thomas L., ed. nature, rain, pandemic times, moments of life, garden, and light. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To live in radical joyous shared servanthood to unify the Earth Family. "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. Traditional knowledge represents the outcome of long experimentation . Five stars for introducing me to Sweetgrass, its many Native American traditions, and her message of caring for and showing gratitude for the Earth. 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 . 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. By observing, studying, paying attention to the granular journey of every individual member of an ecosystem, we can be not just good engineers of water, of land, of food production but honourable ones. Even a wounded world is feeding us. It is informative about Native American history, beliefs, and culture. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer | Goodreads Otherwise, consider asking these ten questions in conjunction with the chapter-specific questions for a deeper discussion. 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. It perceives the family of life to be little more than a complex biochemical machine. The reflecting surface of the pool is textured with their signatures, each one different in pace and resonance. 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. publication online or last modification online. 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. One thing Ive learned in the woods is that there is no such thing as random. It was not until recently that the dikes were removed in an effort to restore the original salt marsh ecosystem. Through this anecdote, Kimmerer reminds us that it is nature itself who is the true teacher. 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 . As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. I share delicious vegan recipes (with a few flexitarian recipes from my pre-vegan days). Skywoman Falling - Emergence Magazine 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. 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.. 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 Inside looking out, I could not bear the loneliness of being dry in a wet world. 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.

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