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

Braiding Sweetgrass is one of the most profoundly moving and illuminating books I’ve read in a long time. Kimmerer is a distinguished professor of Environmental Biology and an enrolled member of the of the Potawatomi Nation, a northern tribe whose ancestral lands are around the Great Lakes. Broken treaties with the US Government finally forced them to move to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.Sweetgrass is translated as the “sweet smelling hair of Mother Earth” and represent the union of mind, body and spirit. In the preface, Kimmerer describes the book as “a braid of stories to heal our relationship with the world.” She weaves together science, spirt and story “that can be medicine for our broken relationship with earth.”Each chapter is to be savored and read slowly. Her prose is achingly beautiful, moving me to tears of wonder as she describes the interrelationship of various plants, such as the brilliant symbiosis of 'The Three Sisters,' beans, squash and corn. Or – the amazing life cycle of the pecan tree or the many uses of cattails; who knew?I was also moved to tears of grief when she describes the horrible legacy of the Indian Boarding Schools in the late 1800’s. The schools were a form of cultural genocide, but the stories, wisdom and knowledge of native lifeways went underground and endured, a testament to the resiliency of native peoples.The basic premise of the book is reciprocity and an ‘I – Thou’ relationship with all of creation, to borrow a phrase from Martin Buber. The land gives back to us when we care for the land. Plants, animals, insects, etc. – are all ‘family,’ and one is much less likely (or at least, think twice) about inflicting harm when the relationship is personal, heartfelt and genuine.Gratitude is the other overarching theme, which is strongly rooted in Native cultures. She describes the Thanksgiving Address of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, which begins a school day or before an important meeting. It is gratitude directed to all of the earth’s species on land and water (including water itself.) The entire address can take up to an hour, as thanks is bestowed upon each element. Each segment ends with “Now our minds are one.” If you don’t read the book, I recommend looking up the Thanksgiving Address. It can be shortened to incorporate into a daily gratitude practice.In my view, this book is a masterpiece of ecological, historical non-fiction. It is inspiring and hopeful; a call to action. As Kimmerer says…”we are the ones who will bend to the task of putting things back together to rekindle the flames of the sacred fire to begin the rebirth of a nation.”

From the moment I started this book I couldn’t put it down. The way she writes is so beautiful it is the perfect combination of scientific knowledge, poetry, heritage, and spirituality that intersects in a way that creates something beautiful. As a Canadian I purchased this book because I believe it is an obligation to learn more about the indigenous ways of life and culture. I will say that I was enthralled the entire time.The way she speaks about the natural world and all it’s gifts is so beautiful. As someone with a love of science and learning, but also a lover of poetry and soulful writing this book satiated all my needs. While I was reading I could feel myself being wrapped in gratitude for our home, the book is so profoundly beautiful, but also so profoundly sad. I definitely shed a tear many times while reading this. The ideas of thankfulness and loving the environment as it loves you is so beautiful but it did make me cry as we are so far removed from that now. But it’s not all sad, she does help you to gain perspective on how to become more in touch with the world again and I am more inspired than ever.I can honestly say that this book has had a profound impact on me, greater than any other book has had. I’ve always loved nature but even I see the world in a new light, the way she describes the beautiful and complex interactions between the plants is inspired. As someone who usually looks at only the scientific reasonings and rationals, the spirituality was more than digestible and spoken in a way that makes sense to me and fills me with love, as science doesn’t hold all the answers and it may never will.All in all this book has changed me for the better and I will always carry the wisdom that has been given to me by Kimmerer, the indigenous peoples, and the plants. I know I now have a newfound respect for the world and all it’s gifts, and gratitude that will never waiver.

This book is very good!

Nos conecta con la sabiduría ancestral y nos hace reflexionar sobre todo lo que intentaron quitarnos al acabar con los nativos. Es un libro que les sacara lagrimas de felicidad y otras veces de tristeza por aquello que ya no es. Lo deberían estar leyendo todos en la preparatoria para así hacernos consientes de que cada cambio que hacemos por insignificante que parezca no lo es todo ayuda a la madre tierra.

Das Buch schenkt Hoffnung für die Erde. Weisheiten,Poesie und wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse wunderbar zusammengeflochten!