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

The author, Robin Wall Kimmerer, orients much of the text around her own personal memories, experiences, and research. To what extent does she become a character in the text?

The importance of family is clear throughout the book, but to what extent do central prescriptions of the novel depend upon family?

The author’s identity (as someone with Indigenous heritage) informs much of the text. In what ways does she explain Indigenous culture and tradition to those unfamiliar with such beliefs?

The figure of the Windigo haunts the author, eventually surprising her in her home. In what ways does the author update the concept of the Windigo and how does it reflect contemporary issues?

The looming figure of the Carlisle Indian School recurs frequently throughout the text. What does the school represent?

There are many descriptions of pollution and polluted environments. How does the author employ traditional literary devices to emphasize the degradation of the environment?

The weaving of baskets is an example of traditional knowledge being passed down from generation to generation. Discuss the symbolic meaning of the baskets, as well as the symbolic meaning of the basket weaving classes.

As a lecturer and a student, education plays an important role in the author’s life. In what ways does she demonstrate the importance of passing along knowledge to future generations?