It is hyporheic flow that Im listening for. 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. Different animals and how the indigenous people learned from watching them and plants, the trees. Inside looking out, I could not bear the loneliness of being dry in a wet world. When people are in the presence of nature, often no other lesson is needed to move them to awe. 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. Follow us onLinkedIn,Twitter, orInstagram. Parts of it are charming and insightful. She's completely comfortable moving between the two and their co-existence within her mind gives her a unique understanding of her experience. 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). Observe them and work to see them beyond their scientific or everyday names. Dr. Kimmerer invites us to view our surroundings through a new lens; perhaps a lens we should have been using all along. What were your thoughts surrounding the Original Instructions?. Want more Water Words of Wisdom? These people have no gratitude or love within them, however, and they disrespect the rest of creation. In that environment, says Kimmerer, there was no such thing as alone. 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. One thing Ive learned in the woods is that there is no such thing as random. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. 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 has often pointed out the importance of direct experience with the land and other living things. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. 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. I read this book in a book club, and one of the others brought some braided Sweetgrass to our meeting. Your email address will not be published. For more discussion prompts and facilitation tips,or to join the conversation, please join the Buffs OneRead community course: Braiding Sweetgrass. 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. Sshhhhh from rain, pitpitpit from hemlock, bloink from maple and lastly popp of falling alder water. 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. -Graham S. Immigrant culture should appreciate this wisdom, but not appropriate it, Kimmerer says. 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. Witness to the rain Download PDF Year: 2011 Publications Type: Book Section Publication Number: 4674 Citation: Kimmerer, Robin W. 2011. (LogOut/ In thinking through the ways the women in our lives stand guard, protect, and nurture our well-being, the idea for this set of four was born. Science is a painfully tight pair of shoes. 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. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. I share delicious vegan recipes (with a few flexitarian recipes from my pre-vegan days). What was most surprising or intriguing to you? The poetry of nature does not escape this writer and she becomes a poet herself at times, as in the following paragraph from this chapter with which I will conclude. This list is simply a starting point, an acknowledgement and gesture of gratitude for the many women in my life that have helped Create, Nurture, Protect, and Lead in ways that have taught me what it means to be a good relative. How can species share gifts and achieve mutualism? 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. And, how can we embrace a hopeful, tangible approach to healing the natural world before its too late? When you have all the time in the world, you can spend it, not on going somewhere, but on being where you are. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive the One Water blog newsletter and acknowledge the Autodesk Privacy Statement. 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. 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. Consider the degree of attention you give to the natural world. 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. Five stars for introducing me to Sweetgrass, its many Native American traditions, and her message of caring for and showing gratitude for the Earth. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. It has created powerful tools for ravaging the planets ecosystems, creating a hard path for our descendants. 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. Kimmerer's words to your own sense of place and purpose at Hotchkiss. 226 likes. The artists' books made in a concertina format, bear witness to the events observed, as visual scales. Last Updated on March 23, 2021, by eNotes Editorial. Did the Depression-era reference hit home with you? Our lifestyle content is crafted to bring eco-friendly and sustainable ideas more mainstream. I felt euphoric inhaling the intense fragrance, and truly understood why the author would name a book after this plant. How can we refrain from interfering with the sacred purpose of another being? 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. How does one go about exploring their own relationship with nature? It perceives the family of life to be little more than a complex biochemical machine. Everything is steeped in meaning, colored by relationships, one thing with another.[]. How much do we love the environment that gives of itself despite our misuse of its resources? Struggling with distance learning? On his forty acres, where once cedars, hemlocks, and firs held sway in a multilayered sculpture of vertical complexity from the lowest moss on the forest floor to the wisps of lichen hanging high in the treetops, now there were only brambles, vine maples, and alders. Why or why not? 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. This makes the story both history, ongoing process, and prophecy of the future. The various themes didn't braid together as well as Sweetgrass itself does. 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. 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. "Robin Wall Kimmerer is writer of rare grace. Do you believe in land as a teacher? By paying attention we acknowledge that we have something to learn from intelligences other than our own. These questions may be posed to an entire class, to small groups, to online communities, or as personal reflective prompts. (Siangu Lakota, b. Shes completely comfortable moving between the two and their co-existence within her mind gives her a unique understanding of her experience. It left me at a loss for words. 380 Words2 Pages Summary The article "Returning the Gift" that written by Robin Kimmerer has discussed the importance of having our appreciations for nature. Its not about wisdom. Here, Kimmerer delves into reconciling humanity with the environment, dwelling in particular upon the changes wrought between generations upon the way in which one considers the land one lives on. We are approaching the end of another section inBraiding Sweetgrass. One of my goals this year was to read more non-fiction, a goal I believe I accomplished. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. [], If there is meaning in the past and the imagined future, it is captured in the moment. For more reflective and creative activity prompts, please join the Buffs OneRead community course: Braiding Sweetgrass. White Hawk earned a MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2011) and BFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico (2008). They feel like kindred spirits. Alder drops make a slow music. Prior to its arrival on the New York Times Bestseller List, Braiding Sweetgrass was on the best seller list of its publisher, Milkweed Editions. The series Takes Care of Us honors native women and the care, protection, leadership and love the provide for their communities. 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. Word Count: 1124. Do you consider them inanimate objects? 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. Similarly, each moment in time is shaped by human experience, and a moment that might feel long for a butterfly might pass by in the blink of an eye for a human and might seem even shorter for a millennia-old river. Learn how your comment data is processed. How can we create our own stories (or lenses) to view sacred relationships? She is wrong. How do we compensate the plants for what weve received? My mother is a veteran. "T his is a time to take a lesson from mosses," says Robin Wall Kimmerer, celebrated writer and botanist. This is the water that moves under the stream, in cobble beds and old sandbars. What problems does Kimmerer identify and what solutions does she propose in Braiding Sweetgrass? Everything in the forest seems to blend into everything else, mist, rain, air, stream, branches. This is an important and a beautiful book. Praise and Prizes 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. One of the most beautiful books I've ever read. 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. 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. The last date is today's And we think of it as simply rain, as if it were one thing, as if we understood it. 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. Would you consider re-reading Braiding Sweetgrass? What literary devices are used in Braiding Sweetgrass? 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. Was the use of animals as people in various stories an effective use of metaphor? Do you relate more to people of corn or wood? 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. We've designed some prompts to help students, faculty, and all of the CU community to engage with the 2021 Buffs OneRead. If so, how? Where will the raindrops land? know its power in many formswaterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans, snow and ice. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Maples do their fair share for us; how well do we do by them? Otherwise, consider asking these ten questions in conjunction with the chapter-specific questions for a deeper discussion. Overall Summary. 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. This passage also introduces the idea of. What about the book resonated the most with you? Braiding Sweetgrass consists of the chapters In the Footsteps of Nanabozho: Becoming Indigenous to Place, The Sound of Silverbells, Sitting in a Circle, Burning Cascade Head, Putting Down Roots, Umbilicaria: The Belly Button of the World, Old-Growth Children, and Witness to the Rain. Here, Kimmerer delves into reconciling humanity with the environment, dwelling in particular upon the changes wrought between generations upon the way in which one considers the land one lives on. Maybe there is no such thing as rain; there are only raindrops, each with its own story.. Then she listens. How often do we consider the language, or perceptions, of those with whom we are trying to communicate? 1976) is a visual artist and independent curator based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Artist Tony Drehfal is a wood engraver, printmaker, and photographer. More than 70 contributorsincluding Robin Wall Kimmerer, Richard Powers, Sharon Blackie, David Abram, and J. -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. "Witness to the Rain" is the final chapter of the "Braiding Sweetgrass" section of RWK's beautiful book. tags: healing , human , nature , relationship , restoration. While the discursive style of, As we struggle to imagine a future not on fire, we are gifted here with an indigenous culture of. Why or why not? Did you find the outline structure of the chapter effective? All rights reserved. Required fields are marked *. This quote from the chapter Witness to the Rain, comes from a meditation during a walk in the rain through the forest. Instant PDF downloads. The chapters reinforce the importance of reciprocity and gratitude in defeating the greed that drives human expansion at the expense of the earths health and plenitude. Kimmerer combines these elements with a powerfully poetic voice that begs for the return to a restorative and sustainable relationship between people and nature. He did so in a forty-acre plot of land where the old-growth forests had been destroyed by logging operations since the 1880s. Witness to the Rain In this chapter, Kimmerer considers the nature of raindrops and the flaws surrounding our human conception of time. 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? Read the Epilogue of Braiding Sweetgrass, Returning the Gift. 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. The reflecting surface of the pool is textured with their signatures, each one different in pace and resonance. Do you have any acquaintances similar to Hazel? Dr. Kimmerer invites us to view our surroundings through a new lens; perhaps a lens we should have been using all along. in the sand, but because joy. And we think of it as simply time, as if it were one thing, as if we understood it. These people are compassionate and loving, and they can dance in gratitude for the rest of creation. . 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. How has your view of plants changed from reading this chapter? I appreciated Robin Wall Kimmerers perspective on giving back to the land considering how much the land gives to us. 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! If you only read one science or nature book this year, this comes with my highest recommendations. 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. For example, Kimmerer calls a spruce tree strong arms covered in moss (p.208) and describes vine maples as a moss-draped dome (296). These are not 'instructions' like commandments, though, or rules; rather they are like a compass: they provide an orientation but not a map. 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. 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. (LogOut/ San Antonio, TX: Trinity University Press: 187-195. (LogOut/ 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. In this chapter, Kimmerer discusses Franz Dolps attempts to regenerate an old-growth forest. Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass. They provide us with another model of how . "Burning Sweetgrass" is the final section of this book. What would you gather along the path towards the future? Robin Wall Kimmerer is an American author, scientist, mother, professor, and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. What concepts were the most difficult to grasp, if any? What do you consider the power of ceremony? 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. Not what I expected, but all the better for it. Each raindrop will fall individually, its size and destination determined by the path of its falls and the obstacles it encounters along its journey. 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. (USA), 2013. Her first book, published in 2003, was the natural and cultural history book Gathering . At root, Kimmerer is seeking to follow an ancient model for new pathways to sustainability. Witness to the rain. How do you show gratitude in your daily life; especially to the Earth? Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. Witness to the rain Published December 15, 2017 Title Witness to the rain Authors: Kimmerer, Robin W. Secondary Authors: Fleischner, Thomas L. Publication Type Book Section Year of Publication: 2011 Publisher Name: Trinity University Press Publisher City: San Antonio, TX Accession Number: AND4674 URL 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. And, when your book club gets together, I suggest these Triple Chocolate Chickpea Brownie Bites that are a vegan and more sustainable recipe compared to traditional brownies. She honors the "humility rare in our species" that has led to developments like satellite imagery . We will discuss it more soon on their podcast and in the meantime I'll try to gather my thoughts! Author: Kimmerer, Robin Wall Additional Titles: . If not, what obstacles do you face in feeling part of your land? 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? 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. Burning Sweetgrass Windigo Footprints The Sacred and the Superfund Collateral Damage . 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. over despair. Kimmerer again affirms the importance of the entire experience, which builds a relationship and a sense of humility. She is Potawatomi and combines her heritage with her scientific and environmental passions. Each raindrop will fall individually, its size and. 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. 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. She served as Gallery Director and Curator for the All My Relations Gallery in Minneapolis from 2011-2015. What have you overlooked or taken for granted? 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. Every drip it seems is changed by its relationship with life, whether it encounters moss or maple or fir bark or my hair. Visualize an element of the natural world and write a letter of appreciation and observation. If tannin rich alder water increases the size of the drops, might not water seeping through a long curtain of moss also pick up tannins, making the big strong drops I thought I was seeing? 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. date the date you are citing the material. We can almost hear the landbound journey of the raindrops along with her. Are there aspects of a Windigo within each of us? 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. How has this book changed your view of the natural world and relationships? Kimmerer describes how the people of the Onondaga Nation begin every gathering with what is often called the "Thanksgiving Address.". ", University of Colorado Boulder Libraries, Buffs One Read 2022-2023: Braiding Sweetgrass, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdome Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants. "I close my eyes and listen to the voices of the rain. All rights reserved. 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.
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