Robin Wall Kimmerer on the wonders of nature

Robin Wall Kimmerer, a botanist, professor, and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, has written a book that blends Indigenous wisdom with scientific knowledge. Her book, "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants," published in 2013, has sold over two million copies and made it to the New York Times Bestsellers List in 2020. Kimmerer believes in the importance of giving voice to plants and the land, and she strives to advocate for them in her writing.

Kimmerer takes her readers on an ecological show & tell, introducing them to various plants and their significance. She uses complementary colors and knowledge systems to teach about the interplay between Western scientific knowledge and Indigenous knowledge. She introduces them to "Grandmother Maple," a 200-250 year old tree, which she calls a relative, and she has planted a replacement tree for it to ensure its survival in the face of climate change.

Kimmerer has also launched a campaign called "Plant Baby Plant" to encourage people to plant trees. She shares the stories of trees with Indigenous kids in Northern Michigan, instilling a sense of respect and gratitude for the Earth's gifts in them. Kimmerer advocates for a gift economy, where the currency is gratitude, respect, and reciprocity, instead of money or commodities.

She believes that modeling ourselves after the way nature works, in terms of giving back and not taking excessively, is essential to ensure the well-being of life on the planet.