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Durham Tech Book Clubs & Reading Circles

Book Info

braiding sweetgrass by robin wall kimmerer

Durham Tech Library Faculty & Staff Reading Circle, Spring 2024

Our description: "Evocative writing connects indigenous (Potawatomi) ways of knowing, scientific knowledge, and personal stories to examine and mend our relationship with the earth. A book about nature, sustainability, reciprocity, gratitude, and beauty – to read with all your senses!" SD

Reading Circle Resources

Reading Schedule

Week 1: Preface & Planting Sweetgrass (pp. ix-x, 3-59, approximately 58 pages) 

Preface ix 

*”Skywoman Falling” 3 

*”The Council of Pecans” 11 

“The Gift of Strawberries” 22 

“An Offering” 33 

*”Asters and Goldenrod” 39 

*”Learning the Grammar of Animacy” 48 

Week 2: Tending Sweetgrass (pp. 63-117, approximately 54 pages) 

“Maple Sugar Moon” 63 

*”Witch Hazel” 72 

“A Mother’s Work” 82 

“The Consolation of Water Lilies” 98 

*”Allegiance to Gratitude” 105 

Week 3: Picking Sweetgrass (pp. 121-201, approximately 80 pages) 

“Epiphany in the Beans” 121 

“The Three Sisters” 128 

“Wisgaak Gokpenagen: A Black Ash Basket” 141 

*”Mishkos Kenomagwen: The Teachings of Grass” 156 

“Maple Nation: A Citizenship Guide” 167 

*”The Honorable Harvest” 175 

Week 4: Braiding Sweetgrass (pp.205-300, approximately 95 pages) 

“In the Footsteps of Nanabozho” 205 

“The Sound of Silverbells“ 216 

*”Sitting in a Circle” 223 

“Burning Cascade Head” 241 

“Putting Down Roots” 254 

“Umbilicaria: The Belly Button of the World” 268 

“Old-Growth Children” 277 

“Witness to the Rain” 293 

Week 5: Burning Sweetgrass (pp. 303-384, approximately 81 pages) 

“Windingo Footprints” 303 

“The Sacred and the Superfund” 310 

*”People of Corn, People of Light” 341 

“Collateral Damage” 348 

*”Shkitagen: People of the Seventh Fire” 360 

“Defeating Windingo” 374 

Epilogue: “Returning the Gift” 380