How do you feel community strength relates to our treatment of the environment? Against the background hiss of rain, she distinguishes the sounds drops make when they fall on different surfaces, a large leaf, a rock, a small pool of water, or moss. Quote by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Can we agree that water is important to our lives and bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to the Water? Robin Wall Kimmerer begins her book Gathering Moss with a journey in the Amazon rainforest, during which Indigenous guides helped her see an iguana on the tree branch, a toucan in the leaves. Instant PDF downloads. The author does an excellent job at narration. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. "T his is a time to take a lesson from mosses," says Robin Wall Kimmerer, celebrated writer and botanist. At root, Kimmerer is seeking to follow an ancient model for new pathways to sustainability. They all join together to destroy the wood people. Its about pursuing the wants and needs of humans, with less concern for the more-than-human world. Do you feel rooted to any particular place? All rights reserved. Parts of it are charming and insightful. "As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent . The second is the date of The author reflects on how modern botany can be explained through these cultures. I really enjoyed this. What did you think of the concept of the journey of plants relating to the journey of people? This is an important and a beautiful book. 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. 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 . Robin Wall Kimmerer . What literary devices are used in Braiding Sweetgrass? 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. How has this book changed your view of the natural world and relationships? Burning Sweetgrass is the final section of this book. They provide us with another model of how . When was the last time you experienced a meditative moment listening to the rain? It teaches the reader so many things about plants and nature in general. This quote from the chapter "Witness to the Rain", comes from a meditation during a walk in the rain through the forest. Copyright 20112022 Andrews Forest Program. 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. 380 Words2 Pages Summary The article "Returning the Gift" that written by Robin Kimmerer has discussed the importance of having our appreciations for nature. What are ways we can improve the relationship? 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. 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. She is the co-founder and past president of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge section of the Ecological Society of America. Did you consider this a melancholy chapter? I appreciated Robin Wall Kimmerers perspective on giving back to the land considering how much the land gives to us. In: Fleischner, Thomas L., ed. Pull up a seat, friends. Science is a painfully tight pair of shoes. Not because I have my head. What have you worked hard for, like tapping maples? Her first book, published in 2003, was the natural and cultural history book Gathering . Water knows this, clouds know this.. (Siangu Lakota, b. After reading the book do you feel compelled to take any action or a desire to impact any change? 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. By paying attention we acknowledge that we have something to learn from intelligences other than our own. Kimmerer says, "Let us put our . 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. 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. Its based on common sense, on things we may have known at one time about living in concert with our surroundings, but that modern life and its irresistible conveniences have clouded. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To live in radical joyous shared servanthood to unify the Earth Family. This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion on 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. "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. 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. I would read a couple of essays, find my mind wandering, and then put the book down for a couple of weeks. 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. The author spends several hours in the rain one day. Was the use of animals as people in various stories an effective use of metaphor? Its author, an acclaimed plant scientist born and raised in the U.S., has been conditioned by the Western European culture were all heir to, and writes in full awareness that her audience will consist mainly of non-natives. What creates a strong relationship between people and Earth? Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. The drop swells on the tip of the of a cedar and I catch in on my tongue like a blessing. When you have all the time in the world, you can spend it, not on going somewhere, but on being where you are. This passage also introduces the idea of ilbal, or a seeing instrument that is not a physical lens or device but a mythology. Abstract. Begun in 2011, the project, called Helping Forests Walk, has paired SUNY scholars with local Indigenous people to learn how to . "Braiding Sweetgrass" Chapter 25: Witness to the Rainwritten by Robin Wall KimmererRead by Sen Naomi Kirst-SchultzOriginal text can be bought at:https://birc. Do you believe in land as a teacher? Dr. 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. 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. Fougere's comment relates to Kimmerer's quote from his Witness To The Rain chapter in which he says, "If there is meaning in the past and in the imagined future, it is captured in the moment. What were your thoughts surrounding the Original Instructions?. Why or why not? a material, scientific inventory of the natural world." It invokes the "ancient order of protocols" which "sets gratitude as the highest priority." Does your perception of food change when you consider how food arrived at your table; specifically, a forced removal vs. garden nurturing? If not, what obstacles do you face in feeling part of your land? She is the author of the New York Times bestselling collection of essays Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. Different animals and how the indigenous people learned from watching them and plants, the trees. San Antonio, TX: Trinity University Press: 187-195. Cold, and wishing she had a cup of tea, Kimmerer decides not to go home but instead finds a dry place under a tree thats fallen across a stream. Robin Kimmerer, Potawatomi Indigenous ecologist, author, and professor, asks this question as she ponders the fleeting existence of our sister speciesspecies such as the passenger pigeon, who became extinct a century ago. So I stretch out, close my eyes, and listen to the rain. 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. know its power in many formswaterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans, snow and ice. We are approaching the end of another section inBraiding Sweetgrass. Kimmerer describes Skywoman as an "ancestral gardener" and Eve as an "exile". Will the language you use when referencing plants change? And we think of it as simply time, as if it were one thing, as if we understood it. Do offering ceremonies or rituals exist in your life? . Not what I expected, but all the better for it. . 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. Cheers! Did you note shapes as metaphor throughout the book? October 6, 2021 / janfalls. The author has a flowery, repetitive, overly polished writing style that simply did not appeal to me. Reflecting on the book, have your perspectives, views, or beliefs shifted? Did this chapter change your view on the inner workings of forests? 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. What fire within you has proven to be both good and bad? Then I would find myself thinking about something the author said, decide to give the book another try, read a couple of essays, etc. She wonders what our gift might be, and thinks back on the people of mud, wood, and light. 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. "Robin Wall Kimmerer is writer of rare grace. 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. Kimmerer believes that the connections in the natural world are there for us to listen to if were ready to hear them. Artist Tony Drehfal is a wood engraver, printmaker, and photographer. 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. Kimmerer hopes that with the return of salmon to Cascade Head, some of the sacred ceremonies of gratitude and reciprocity that once greeted them might return as well. What do you consider the power of ceremony? Listening, standing witness, creates an openness to the world in which boundaries between us can dissolve in a raindrop." From 'Witness to Rain' [essay], BRAIDING SWEETGRASS: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, 2015 by Milkweed Editions. San Antonio, TX: Trinity University Press: 187-195. 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. I'm sure there is still so much I can't see. 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. 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. Visualize an element of the natural world and write a letter of appreciation and observation. Hundreds of thousands of readers have turned to Kimmerer's words over the decades since the book's first publication, finding these tender, poetic, and respectful words, rooted in soil and tradition, intended to teach and celebrate. How can species share gifts and achieve mutualism? Why or why not? The reflecting surface of the pool is textured with their signatures, each one different in pace and resonance. She is the author of numerous scientific articles, and the book Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses. Take some time to walk about campus or some other natural space. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive the One Water blog newsletter and acknowledge the Autodesk Privacy Statement. Traditional knowledge represents the outcome of long experimentation . Adapting Fearlessness, Nonviolence, Anarchy and Humility in the 21st century. What did you think of the perspective regarding the ceremony of life events; in which those who have been provided with the reason for the celebration give gifts to those in attendance. Read the Epilogue of Braiding Sweetgrass, Returning the Gift. One thing Ive learned in the woods is that there is no such thing as random. Even a wounded world is feeding us. This forest is textured with different kinds of time, as the surface of the pool is dimpled with different kinds of rain. What are your thoughts on the assertion of mutual taming between plants and humans? Dr. Kimmerer weaves together one of the most rich resources to date in Braiding Sweetgrass, and leaves us with a sense of hope rather than paralyzing fear. The motorists speeding by have no idea the unique and valuable life they are destroying for the sake of their own convenience. Every drip it seems is changed by its relationship with life, whether it encounters moss or maple or fir bark or my hair. If this paragraph appeals to you, then so will the entire book, which is, as Elizabeth Gilbert says in her blurb, a hymn of love to the world. ~, CMS Internet Solutions, Inc, Bovina New York, The Community Newspaper for the Town of Andes, New York, BOOK REVIEW: Braiding Sweetgrass: indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer April 2020, FROM DINGLE HILL: For The Birds January 2023, MARK PROJECT DESCRIBES GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR LARGE TOWN 2023 BUDGET WAS APPROVED, BELOW 2% TAX CAP January 2022, ACS ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2018 TOP STUDENTS June 2018, FIRE DEPARTMENT KEEPS ON TRUCKING February 2017, FLOOD COMMISSION NO SILVER BULLET REPORT ADOPTED BY TOWN BOARD June 2018. The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Kimmerer, Robin Wall. These Braiding Sweetgrass book club questions are intended to be used as discussion points post-reading, and not a guide during the reading itself. I think it has affected me more than anything else I've ever read. date the date you are citing the material. It takes time for fine rain to traverse the scabrous rough surface of an alder leaf. 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. The fish-eye lens gives me a giant forehead and tiny ears. Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. . Robin Wall Kimmerer from the her bookBraiding Sweetgrass. 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 is a gifted speaker and teacher. Her writing about the importance of maintaining indigenous language and culture also elicited feelings of tenderness and sadness from me. Elsewhere the rain on . How can we have a relationship if we lack thorough understanding, an ability to listen, and ideas to give back to the natural world? The following questions are divided by section and chapter, and can stand independently or as a group. Praise and Prizes Give your attention to the plants and natural elements around you. She sees these responsibilities as extending past the saying of thanks for the earths bounty and into conservation efforts to preserve that which humanity values. Kimmerer occupies two radically different thought worlds. Clearly I am in the minority here, as this book has some crazy high ratings overall. 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. 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. to explore their many inspiring collections, including the artist we are highlighting in complement to the Buffs One Read Braiding Sweetgrass. How Human People Are Only One Manifestation of Intelligence In theUniverse. Kimmerer imagines a kind of science in which people saw plants as teachers rather than as objects to be experimented on. How do we change our economy or our interaction within the economy that is destroying the environment? And we think of it as simply rain, as if it were one thing, as if we understood it. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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.. tis is how they learned to survive, when they had little. Sign In, Acknowledgements text to use in a publication. 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. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. Ed. Shes completely comfortable moving between the two and their co-existence within her mind gives her a unique understanding of her experience. For more reflective and creative activity prompts, please join the Buffs OneRead community course: Braiding Sweetgrass. What questions would you add to this list? She is the co-founder and past president of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge section of the Ecological Society of America. I'm Melanie - the founder and content creator of Inspired Epicurean. Its not as big as a maple drop, not big enough to splash, but its popp ripples the surface and sends out concentric rings. These people are compassionate and loving, and they can dance in gratitude for the rest of creation. "I close my eyes and listen to the voices of the rain. . Do you relate more to people of corn or wood? 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?. Prior to its arrival on the New York Times Bestseller List, Braiding Sweetgrass was on the best seller list of its publisher, Milkweed Editions. Everything is steeped in meaning, colored by relationships, one thing with another.[]. Kimmerer occupies two radically different thought worlds. 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. It's difficult to rate this book, because it so frequently veered from two to five stars for me. Even the earth, shes learned from a hydrologist, is mixed with water, in something called the hyporheic flow.. please join the Buffs OneRead community course: In Witness to the Rain, Kimmerer gives uninterrupted attention to the natural world around her. Do you feel a connection to the Earth as reciprocal as the relationships outlined in this chapter? publication online or last modification online. 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. Did you find the outline structure of the chapter effective? 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. 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. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account.