By Laurie Smith

If your home library does not yet contain Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants (2013) by Robin Wall Kimmerer, then make it your next addition.  Anyone who is interested in engaging respectfully with the flora and fauna of our planet should read this book!  Robin Wall Kimmerer is a botanist, professor, author and respected member of Citizen Potawatomi Nation in the United States.

This incredible masterpiece of non-fiction follows the story of the author’s life, with references to historical events interwoven with stories rooted in generations of experience-based knowledge.  The easily flowing, eminently readable style shines a light on traditions, customs, social philosophy, ecology and interactions with Nature.  In doing so, the narrative highlights the difference between the capitalistic economy (based on commodity exchange and dollar values) and the gift economy, where the currency is sharing, gratitude, reciprocity and abundance for all.

This is the best book I have read in years, and throughout the perusal of the interconnected chapters, organized chronologically into the lifecycle and ritualistic significance of sweetgrass, I had frequent “Yes!” and “Aha!” moments.  Through the author’s beautiful perspective, I learned so much more about the relationships between plants and people, seasonal cycles and wisdom passed through generations.  Even descriptions of the destruction of natural areas and wildlife habitat, and the grim stories of residential schools, were depicted with an attitude of patience, and faith in humanity’s ability to learn new ways – really, to relearn old ways - and do the right thing.

I have the author’s most recent book The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World (2024) on hold at my local library.  My place in the hold queue is fifth, which means that at three weeks apiece for loans, I could be waiting another three months before it is available.  As the saying goes, “good things are worth waiting for”.  In the meantime, my next reading adventure beckons, to be shared in a subsequent blog posting.