Robin Wall Kimmerer is a Potawatomi botanist and author passionate about merging Indigenous wisdom with Western science. Her work focuses on solving urgent environmental issues while connecting people to nature.
As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and a trained ecologist, Kimmerer brings a unique perspective. She combines her rich cultural background with scientific knowledge to promote sustainability.
Kimmerer’s journey began with her deep connection to her heritage and a love for the natural world. A key theme in her teaching is reciprocity. She believes in mutual care between humans and the Earth, urging us to support nature rather than exploit it.
In her bestselling book, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, Kimmerer shares personal stories, scientific insights, and Indigenous teachings. This book inspires readers to see the environment as a community that requires our care. Since its release in 2013, the book has sold over 1.6 million copies in the U.S. and has been translated into 20 languages. Her latest book, The Serviceberry, published in 2024, encourages readers to rethink our economy, favoring relationships and abundance over competition and scarcity.
During a recent talk in Omaha, Kimmerer highlighted the urgent problems facing our planet, stating, “The Earth itself is in distress, asking for our attention.” She shared a poignant story of snapping turtles needing to move their nests due to rising water levels, likening them to “climate refugees” who face displacement from the impact of climate change.
As the director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment, Kimmerer works to merge traditional ecological knowledge with modern science. Kimmerer emphasizes that while science is crucial for tackling climate issues, it’s not the only tool we have. She promotes practices like controlled burns and sustainable harvesting, which have maintained biodiversity for generations. By blending these Indigenous techniques with contemporary research, she advocates for a comprehensive approach to conservation.
Kimmerer’s teachings go beyond environmental repair. She promotes a deep respect for nature, encouraging people to forge personal, meaningful connections with the natural world. She even supports granting legal rights to ecosystems, inspired by New Zealand’s recognition of the Whanganui River.
Looking forward, Kimmerer envisions a world of “kin-centered equality,” where all species are valued equally. Her guiding question is, “The Earth has given us everything. What will we give in return?”
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