Climate Writer in Residence Recommends | West Vancouver Memorial Library

[indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants]

by Kimmerer, Robin Wall

Book - 2020

An inspired weaving of indigenous knowledge, plant science, and personal narrative from a distinguished professor of science and a Native American whose p...Show more An inspired weaving of indigenous knowledge, plant science, and personal narrative from a distinguished professor of science and a Native American whose previous book, Gathering Moss, was awarded the John Burroughs Medal for outstanding nature writing. As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent a career learning how to ask questions of nature using the tools of science. As a Potawatomi woman, she learned from elders, family, and history that the Potawatomi, as well as a majority of other cultures indigenous to this land, consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowing together to reveal what it means to see humans as "the younger brothers of creation." As she explores these themes she circles toward a central argument: the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgement and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the world. Once we begin to listen for the languages of other beings, we can begin to understand the innumerable life-giving gifts the world provides us and learn to offer our thanks, our care, and our own gifts in return. Show less

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Indigenomics

Taking A Seat at the Economic Table

by Hilton, Carol Anne

Book - 2021

It is time. It is time to increase the visibility of the emerging modern Indigenous economy and the role and responsibility of the people involved. This i...Show more It is time. It is time to increase the visibility of the emerging modern Indigenous economy and the role and responsibility of the people involved. This is Indigenomics. Indigenomics lays out the tenets of the emerging Indigenous economy, built around relationships, multigenerational stewardship of resources, and care for all. Highlights include: The ongoing power shift and rise of the modern Indigenous economy Voices of Indigenous business leaders Ongoing legal challenges to Canada's relationship with Indigenous Peoples Exposure of the false media narrative of Indigenous dependency A new narrative, rooted in the reality on the ground, that Indigenous Peoples are economic powerhouses Diverse examples from across the emerging Indigenous economy. Indigenomics calls for a new model of development, one that advances Indigenous self-determination, collective well-being, and reconciliation. This is vital reading for business leaders and entrepreneurs, Indigenous organizations and Nations, governments and policymakers, and economists. How and why Indigenous worldviews are important to enhancing the modern economy. Show less

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The Right to Be Cold

One Woman's Story of Protecting Her Culture, the Arctic, and the Whole Planet

by Watt-Cloutier, Sheila

Book - 2015

The Arctic ice is receding each year, but just as irreplaceable is the culture, the wisdom that has allowed the Inuit to thrive in the Far North for so lo...Show more The Arctic ice is receding each year, but just as irreplaceable is the culture, the wisdom that has allowed the Inuit to thrive in the Far North for so long. And it's not just the Arctic. The whole world is changing in dangerous, unpredictable ways. Sheila Watt-Cloutier has devoted her life to protecting what is threatened and nurturing what has been wounded. In this culmination of Watt-Cloutier's regional, national, and international work over the last twenty-five years, The Right to Be Cold explores the parallels between safeguarding the Arctic and the survival of Inuit culture, of which her own background is such an extraordinary example. This is a human story of resilience, commitment, and survival told from the unique vantage point of an Inuk woman who, in spite of many obstacles, rose from humble beginnings in the Arctic to become one of the most influential and decorated environmental, cultural, and human rights advocates in the world. Show less

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Warrior Life

Indigenous Resistance & Resurgence

by Palmater, Pamela D.

Book - 2020

Warrior Life: Indigenous Resistance and Resurgence is the second book of the best blogs and articles authored by Pamela Palmater since her first book: Ind...Show more Warrior Life: Indigenous Resistance and Resurgence is the second book of the best blogs and articles authored by Pamela Palmater since her first book: Indigenous Nationhood: Empowering Grassroots Citizens. Like the first book, this one provides short chapters on current Indigenous issues that are easily accessible to students and the general public under the general topic areas of Canadian and First Nation politics, racism, sexualized genocide, Canadian law and policy impacting Indigenous peoples and a critique of reconciliation initiatives. Show less

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Sand Talk

How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World

by Yunkaporta, Tyson

Book - 2020

A paradigm-shifting book from Aboriginal scholar Tyson Yunkaporta, who brings a crucial Indigenous perspective to history, education, money, power, and sustainability-and offers a new template for living. A paradigm-shifting book from Aboriginal scholar Tyson Yunkaporta, who brings a crucial Indigenous perspective to history, education, money, power, and sustainability-and offers a new template for living. Show less

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Finding the Mother Tree

Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest

by Simard, S.

Book - 2021

Dr. Suzanne Simard was born and raised in the rainforests of British Columbia and has forged a lifelong relationship of love and respect with the trees. T...Show more Dr. Suzanne Simard was born and raised in the rainforests of British Columbia and has forged a lifelong relationship of love and respect with the trees. This relationship was the driving force behind her decision to dedicate her life to better understanding the forest and the network that connects the plant life within. She takes readers on an intimate journey of scientific discovery. Linking her research to her personal experiences, she recounts her life's work uncovering the "Wood Wide Web," the underground mycelium network that connects all the trees and plants within a forest. It is a network that allows them to share not only nutrients, but information, all of which originates from the hubs called Mother Trees. Readers will journey with Dr. Simard into this massive experiment, from dramatic encounters with wildlife to the groundbreaking "Aha" moments in a lab, from learning how to utilize this network to promote plant growth to what this network can teach us about combatting climate change. This book is not about how we can save the trees, but about how the trees might actually save us. Show less

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Silent Spring

by Carson, Rachel

Book - 2002

How Rachel Carson exposed the effects of the unregulated use of pesticides and herbicides by the federal government, and sparked a revolution in environmental policy. How Rachel Carson exposed the effects of the unregulated use of pesticides and herbicides by the federal government, and sparked a revolution in environmental policy. Show less

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