Braiding Sweetgrass

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants.

As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on "a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise" (Elizabeth Gilbert).

Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, and as a woman, Kimmerer shows how other living beings - asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass - offer us gifts and lessons, even if we've forgotten how to hear their voices. In reflections that range from the creation of Turtle Island to the forces that threaten its flourishing today, she circles toward a central argument: that the awakening of ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgement and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world.

For only when we can hear the languages of other beings will we be capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learn to give our own gifts in return.

Staff Pick: "A beautifully written, important and essential read! Robin's message of caring for and showing gratitude for the Earth was truly touching and completely changed my perspective on how we all relate to the land. This is one I will read over and over and over again. An absolute gift." - Megan 

"Let's just start by saying, Wow, what a fantastic read! If you find yourself in need of confirmation or inspiration to live a life less destructive, consumer-driven, or consumption-driven then this is exactly what you've been looking for. This book takes personal stories that are both tragic, and beautiful and weaves it in with thoughtful wisdom learned through Robin Wall Kimmerer's academic education, her upbringing, and her goal to educate herself about her own heritage and culture. It's a stark reminder that the history and the present (but hopefully not the future) of North America is dark and disconnected. However, that connection is not totally lost, and Braiding Sweetgrass can help you on your journey to reconnect with the natural world. As a witch that tries to live a life in harmony with that world, I felt renewed and reinvigorated to keep going and forge a deeper connection. Learning the Grammar of Animacy is hands down my favourite chapter, read it, read it again, and it'll change your point of view." - Keisha