How often do we consider the language, or perceptions, of those with whom we are trying to communicate? Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Kimmerer also discusses her own journey to Kanatsiohareke, where she offered her own services at attempting to repopulate the area with native sweetgrass. 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. know its power in many formswaterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans, snow and ice. 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.". (LogOut/ Kimmerer reaches a place where shes in tune with nature. I think that moss knows rain better than we do, and so do maples. 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. OK, this book was a journey and not a precisely pleasant one. Braiding Sweetgrass is a nonfiction work of art by Dr. Robin Kimmerer. But they're gifts, too. Afterward they want to create a creature who can speak, and so they try to make humans. Every drip it seems is changed by its relationship with life, whether it encounters moss or maple or fir bark or my hair. Were you familiar with Carlisle, Pennsylvania prior to this chapter? 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. What would you gather along the path towards the future? in the sand, but because joy. Elsewhere the rain on . Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. 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. Did the Depression-era reference hit home with you? Christelle Enault is an artist and illustrator based in Paris. They make the first humans out of mud, but they are ugly and shapeless and soon melt away in the rain. Kimmerer again affirms the importance of the entire experience, which builds a relationship and a sense of humility. Rare, unless you measure time like a river. . The fish-eye lens gives me a giant forehead and tiny ears. 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 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. tags: healing , human , nature , relationship , restoration. 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 . 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! She served as Gallery Director and Curator for the All My Relations Gallery in Minneapolis from 2011-2015. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. [], There are different kinds of drops, depending on the relationship between the water and the plant. -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. Mediums and techniques: linoleum engravings printed in linen on both sides. . date the date you are citing the material. 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. She is wrong. What have you overlooked or taken for granted? This quote from the chapter Witness to the Rain, comes from a meditation during a walk in the rain through the forest. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. How does the story of Skywoman compare to the other stories of Creation? "Witness to the Rain" is the final chapter of the "Braiding Sweetgrass" section of RWK's beautiful book. Does embracing nature/the natural world mean you have a mothers responsibility to create a home? How has this book changed your view of the natural world and relationships? Otherwise, consider asking these ten questions in conjunction with the chapter-specific questions for a deeper discussion. 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. Her book reachedanother impressive milestone last weekwhen Kimmerer received a MacArthur genius grant. Science is a painfully tight pair of shoes. I think that moss knows rain better than we do, and so do maples. This Study Guide consists of approximately 46pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. Not what I expected, but all the better for it. In addition to this feature event, Sweet Briar is hosting a series of events that complement . Her book draws not only on the inherited wisdom of Native Americans, but also on the knowledge Western science has accumulated about plants. Kimmerer, Robin W. 2011. I read this book in a book club, and one of the others brought some braided Sweetgrass to our meeting. 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. Do any specific plants bring you comfort and connection? Alder drops make a slow music. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. 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. Witness to the rain Download PDF Year: 2011 Publications Type: Book Section Publication Number: 4674 Citation: Kimmerer, Robin W. 2011. 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. 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? 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. nature, rain, pandemic times, moments of life, garden, and light. As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. The second is the date of Dr. Artist Tony Drehfal is a wood engraver, printmaker, and photographer. 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. (LogOut/ 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. What about the book resonated the most with you? Sweetgrass, as the hair of Mother Earth, is traditionally braided to show loving care for her well-being. The last date is today's The author does an excellent job at narration. Kimmerer often muses on how we can live in reciprocity with the land, and gratitude, as our uniquely human gift, is always an important part of this. eNotes.com, Inc. 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. 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. They feel like kindred spirits. 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 are your thoughts concerning indigenous agriculture in contrast to Western agriculture? 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. 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. Did you find the outline structure of the chapter effective? 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. Did you recognize yourself or your experiences in it? 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. What are your thoughts on the assertion of mutual taming between plants and humans? help you understand the book. 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 has often pointed out the importance of direct experience with the land and other living things. 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. 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 Water knows this, clouds know this.. Is it possible to stay quiet long enough to hear/learn? Dr. For example, Kimmerer calls a spruce tree strong arms covered in moss (p.208) and describes vine maples as a moss-draped dome (296). Oh my goodness, what an absolutely gorgeous book with possibly the best nature writing I've ever read. San Antonio, TX: Trinity University Press: 187-195. Observe them and work to see them beyond their scientific or everyday names. Begun in 2011, the project, called Helping Forests Walk, has paired SUNY scholars with local Indigenous people to learn how to . In Witness to the Rain, Kimmerer gives uninterrupted attention to the natural world around her. Then I would find myself thinking about something the author said, decide to give the book another try, read a couple of essays, etc. The drop swells on the tip of the of a cedar and I catch in on my tongue like a blessing. Do you consider sustainability a diminished standard of living? After reading the book, what do you find yourself curious about? Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Kimmerer traces this theme by looking at forest restoration, biological models of symbiosis, the story of Nanabozho, her experiences of teaching ethnobotany, and other topics. . The other chapter that captured me is titled Witness to the Rain. Rather than being historical, it is descriptive and meditative. What creates a strong relationship between people and Earth? What have you overlooked or taken for granted? This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion on Required fields are marked *. Burning Sweetgrass Windigo Footprints The Sacred and the Superfund Collateral Damage . Yet, this list of qualities could go on and on and each person carries multiple roles. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling collection of essays Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. What are ways we can improve the relationship? When you have all the time in the world, you can spend it, not on going somewhere, but on being where you are. 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. How has your view of plants changed from reading this chapter? As the field trip progresses and the students come to understand more fully their relationship with the earth, Kimmerer explains how the current climate crisis, specifically the destruction of wetland habitation, becomes not just an abstract problem to be solved on an intellectual level but an extremely personal mission. They all join together to destroy the wood people. Listening, standing witness, creates an openness to the world in which the boundaries between us can dissolve in a raindrop. I really enjoyed this. Did you note shapes as metaphor throughout the book? 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. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. "I close my eyes and listen to the voices of the rain. tis is how they learned to survive, when they had little. 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. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. 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. These qualities also benefited them, as they were the only people to survive and endure. Do you feel rooted to any particular place? A New York Times Bestseller A Washington Post Bestseller Named a Best Essay Collection of the Decade by Literary Hub As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. Many of the pants have since become invasive species, choking or otherwise endangering native species to sustain their own pace of exponential growth. Not because I have my head. 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. Cheers! I had no idea how much I needed this book until I read it. Kimmerer believes that the connections in the natural world are there for us to listen to if were ready to hear them. She then relates the Mayan creation story. 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. Traditional knowledge represents the outcome of long experimentation . In that environment, says Kimmerer, there was no such thing as alone. 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. 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 . Do you relate more to people of corn or wood? It also greatly touches upon how humans and nature impact one another and how we should appreciate the journey that food and nature have taken to get to our tables and backyards. 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. The completed legacy of colonialism is further explored in the chapter Putting Down Roots, where Kimmerer reflects that restoration of native plants and cultures is one path towards reconciliation. What concepts were the most difficult to grasp, if any? 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. 5 minutes of reading. This nonfiction the power of language, especially learning the language of your ancestors to connect you to your culture as well as the heartbreaking fact that indigenous children who were banned from speaking anything from English in academic settings. Kimmerer describes how the people of the Onondaga Nation begin every gathering with what is often called the "Thanksgiving Address.". . If so, what makes you feel a deeper connection with the land and how did you arrive at that feeling? The reflecting surface of the pool is textured with their signatures, each one different in pace and resonance. moments of wonder and joy. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Can you identify any ceremonies in which you participated, that were about the land, rather than family and culture? The Andrews Forest Programprovides science on multiple themes and provides a broader foundation for regional studies. The property she purchases comes with a half acre pond that once was the favorite swimming hole for the community's boys, but which now is choked with plant growth. The trees act not as individuals, but somehow as a collective. When Kimmerer moves herself and her daughters to upstate New York, one of the responsibilities that she decides to take is to provide her daughters with a swimmable pond. Next they make humans out of wood. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance It was not until recently that the dikes were removed in an effort to restore the original salt marsh ecosystem. How can we have a relationship if we lack thorough understanding, an ability to listen, and ideas to give back to the natural world? I read this book almost like a book of poetry, and it was a delightful one to sip and savor. Even the earth, shes learned from a hydrologist, is mixed with water, in something called the hyporheic flow.. How does Kimmerer use myths to illustrate her ideas in Braiding Sweetgrass? I'm sure there is still so much I can't see. We are discussing it here: Audiobook..narrated by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Powerful book with lots of indigenous wisdom related to science, gratitude, and how we relate to the land. Does your perception of food change when you consider how food arrived at your table; specifically, a forced removal vs. garden nurturing? Even a wounded world is feeding us. These are not 'instructions' like commandments, though, or rules; rather they are like a compass: they provide an orientation but not a map. Witness to the rain. Instant PDF downloads. What was the last object you felt a responsibility to use well? 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. She's completely comfortable moving between the two and their co-existence within her mind gives her a unique understanding of her experience. 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. I must admit I had my reservations about this book before reading it. Living out of balance with the natural world can have grave ecological consequences, as evidenced by the current climate change crisis. The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Kimmerer, Robin Wall. Fir needles fall with the high-frequency hiss of rain, branches fall with the bloink of big drops, and trees with a rare but thunderous thud. In: Fleischner, Thomas L., ed. If there is meaning in the past and in the imagined future, it is captured in the moment. The questionssampled here focus on. She is the author of numerous scientific articles, and the book Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses. Robin Wall Kimmerer . He did so in a forty-acre plot of land where the old-growth forests had been destroyed by logging operations since the 1880s. This point of view isnt all that radical. The way of natural history. In 2013, Braiding Sweetgrass was written by Robin Wall Kimmerer. "Braiding Sweetgrass" Chapter 25: Witness to the Rainwritten by Robin Wall KimmererRead by Sen Naomi Kirst-SchultzOriginal text can be bought at:https://birc. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on "a journey . Does the act of assigning scientific labels halt exploration? The second date is today's The Earth is but ONE country and all living beings her citizens. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Braiding Sweetgrass. I suppose thats the way we are as humans, thinking too much and listening too little. 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). Facing the Anthropocene: Fossil Capitalism and the Crisis of the Earth System, Karl Marx's Ecosocialism: Capital, Nature, and the Unfinished Critique of Political Economy, The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions, The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World, Debt - Updated and Expanded: The First 5,000 Years, Sacred Economics: Money, Gift, and Society in the Age of Transition, Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World, Another Now: Dispatches from an Alternative Present, Talking to My Daughter About the Economy: or, How Capitalism Works - and How It Fails, The Invisible Heart: Economics and Family Values, Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action, Social Reproduction Theory: Remapping Class, Recentring Oppression, Revolution at Point Zero: Housework, Reproduction, and Feminist Struggle. 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 address, she writes, is "a river of words as old as the people themselves, known more . 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. Its messagekeepsreaching new people, having been translated so far into nearly 20 languages. Praise and Prizes Looking at mosses close up is, she insists, a comforting, mindful thing: "They're the most overlooked plants on the planet. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. Witness to the Rain. Director Peter Weir Writers William Kelley (story by) Pamela Wallace (story by) Earl W. Wallace (story by) Stars Harrison Ford From time to time, we like to collect our favourite quotes, sayings, and statistics about water and share them with readers. As immigrants, are we capable of loving the land as if we were indigenous to it? 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. They all lacked gratitude, which is indeed our unique gift as human beings, but increasingly Kimmerer says that she has come to think of language as our gift and responsibility as well. Specifically, this chapter highlights how it is more important to focus on growing a brighter future for the following generations rather than seeking revenge for the wrongs suffered by previous generations. I close my eyes and listen to all the voices in the rain. Did you find this chapter poetic? Finally, the gods make people out of ground corn meal. So I stretch out, close my eyes, and listen to the rain. This passage also introduces the idea of. The author reflects on how modern botany can be explained through these cultures. The author spends several hours in the rain one day. What did you think of Robins use of movement as metaphor and time? Kimmerer is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. If you only read one science or nature book this year, this comes with my highest recommendations. One thing Ive learned in the woods is that there is no such thing as random. As for the rest of it, although I love the author's core message--that we need to find a relationship to the land based on reciprocity and gratitude, rather than exploitation--I have to admit, I found the book a bit of a struggle to get through. The author has a flowery, repetitive, overly polished writing style that simply did not appeal to me. It edges up the toe slope to the forest, a wide unseen river that flows beneath the eddies and the splash. 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. Tragically, the Native people who upheld this sacred tradition were decimated by diseases such as smallpox and measles in the 1830s. Kimmerer combines these elements with a powerfully poetic voice that begs for the return to a restorative and sustainable relationship between people and nature. I want to feel what the cedars feel and know what they know.

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