Sweetgrass
Sweetgrass by Theresa Meuse, published by Nimbus Publishing Limited on June 30, 2022, is a 32-page work that presents a modern story rooted in traditional Indigenous knowledge. The narrative follows a young boy named Matthew and his Auntie as they embark on a sweetgrass picking adventure, accompanied by Matthew’s younger cousin Warren, who is experiencing this cultural practice for the first time. Through their journey, readers gain insight into the significance of sweetgrass, one of the four sacred medicines, and the teachings that accompany its gathering.
In this story, Auntie’s traditional Mi’kmaw knowledge plays a crucial role as she guides the boys in understanding the various uses of sweetgrass, including its applications in traditional medicine and sacred offerings. The narrative emphasizes the importance of respecting nature by not overharvesting. As the trio returns home, Auntie demonstrates how to clean and braid the sweetgrass, further enriching the boys’ experience. This edition offers a glimpse into multigenerational family dynamics and the social themes surrounding Indigenous practices, making it a valuable addition to discussions about cultural heritage and environmental respect.
Official synopsis Publisher
A modern story of traditional Indigenous knowledge that follows a young boy and his Auntie as they gather and braid sweetgrass, one of the four sacred medicines.
It’s early July, and for Matthew and his Auntie that means one thing: time to go sweetgrass picking. This year, Matthew’s younger cousin Warren is coming along, and it will be his first time visiting the shoreline where the sweetgrass grows.
With Auntie’s traditional Mi’kmaw knowledge and Matthew’s gentle guidance, Warren learns about the many uses for sweetgrass–as traditional medicine, a sacred offering, a smudging ingredient–and the importance of not picking more than he needs. Once the trio is back at Auntie’s house, she shows the boys how to clean and braid the grass.
From the duo behind the bestsellers The Gathering and The Sharing Circle, this heartfelt story about the gifts we receive from Mother Earth and how to gather them respectfully offers thoughtful insight into a treasured Mi’kmaw tradition.
Sweetgrass grows in wet meadows, low prairies, and the edges of sloughs and marshes . It grows from Labrador to Alaska, south to New Jersey, Indiana, Iowa, New Mexico, and Arizona. Widely used by North American indigenous peoples from many different Nations, it is also considered one of the “four sacred medicines” by many Plains Indians.
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