The Book Nook

“Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer is a book that kept appearing on my path since its publication in 2013.  While recommended to me by several trusted sources, I avoided reading it without knowing why.  In this case procrastination paid off, as the pandemic’s lessons about the importance of gratitude likely opened me to a more meaningful reading experience. The subtitle: “Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants” is true to its word.  Inside is a thoughtful blend of these topics to let us know the natural world has much to teach us if we’re willing to learn.  The result is a fascinating mix of stories, science and philosophy presented with graceful prose, written in a way that conveys both subtle and direct messages. At the heart of the book is the author’s love of plants, which led to her career choice in the natural sciences.  Originally raised near the Great Lakes, she is now a Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology at SUNY and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Kimmerer feels plants have stories to share, lessons to reveal and gifts to give beyond their obvious medicinal or nutritional value.  Her profession’s demand for unbiased observation and scientific proof may seem diametrically opposed to the more intuitive and anthropomorphic system of beliefs in which she was raised.  Indeed, after entering college she found many challenges that threatened to wedge these two systems.  Yet her writing melds the two worlds in a way that are compatible and makes sense for herself, her students and to readers. Her upbringing of reverence of and respect for nature combined with her scientific training give her a unique perspective on life and the world.  Those who enjoy learning will find opportunity to advance their knowledge of flora, ecology and history, among other subjects.  She intended the book to be a gift “meant to heal our relationship with the world”, giving specific examples of areas that need attention. Story lovers may find ones they’ve never encountered previously and each is charming and meaningful.  The book opens with the legend of Skywoman, who brought earth its first plants, including sweetgrass.  The author shares other indigenous tales that were almost lost forever and which offer a new appreciation of our world.  Stories she shares of her own life provide humor and a personal touch.  There are also contemplations on motherhood, both in the literal and universal sense. For fans of nature, there is information about the environment and specific plants.  Sweetgrass itself is a healing and symbolic plant among the Potawatomi people, and we learn how the braiding of the plant is symbolic of that culture’s philosophy and spirituality.  She tells the story of the Three Sisters, explaining why corn, beans and squash make such excellent companion plants, providing details backed by science. Along the way I learned the story behind the worlds’s oldest democracy and about efforts to restore a sacred area that lies beneath 60 feet of industrial waste.  There were also many other fascinating facts, such as the value of cedar trees and cattails.  I also discovered the origin or meaning of phrases and words I’d heard but never taken the time to look up and that there are different types and purposes of fire.    As a professor, Kimmerer founds creative ways to awaken her students’ awareness of the natural world and engage them in new experiments. There are upsetting facts about indigenous history, including attempts to erase their culture, death marches and witnessing the land’s degradation.  Instead of an accusatory or angry delivery, the author uses facts and metaphor in an attempt to prompt better care of our planet.  In spite of the negative aspects noted, Kimmerer also shares her joy for this wonderful world, giving hope to those who feel disempowered. Many indigenous people continue to hold ceremonies that honor their connection to the planet, renewing their commitment to heal damage done by overconsumption, monoculture, pollution and other problems.  Her views are timely as awareness of ecological repair and sustainability swell across the globe.  She reminds us that what the Earth gives is mean to be a gift, which implies reciprocity in the form of respectful stewardship. Kimmerer’s stories and comments guide readers toward an understanding that spirituality and science are not mutually exclusive.  Providing proof of current problems and valid ways to meet the ecologic challenges facing us, she provides hope about our planet’s future to those willing to listen. The introduction noted that bookstores reported readers returning to buy additional copies of the book with the intention of giving them away.  Recipients were told “I think you need to read this”.  After closing the cover, I can think of many who would love receiving a copy, and hope that this quietly revolutionary book finds its way into the hands of those who need it most.  She’s an inspiration to those who want a better world or even just a habitable one for the generations to come.