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aimeesue's review
5.0
Iwigara is a truly lovely book. Dr. Enrique Salmón is from the Rarámuri (Tarahumara) tribe of northwestern Mexico and studies ethnobotony and traditional ecological knowledge. Viewing the plants from a traditional indigenous perspective is what makes this book truly special, and not just another guide to planes.
Salmón includes 80 plants, from ash and blueberry to willow and yarrow, and it's the writing in the descriptions that rally shines. Each description includes native myths and stories related to the plant, personal reminiscences, and how different tribes used each plant.
The guiding principle is Iwigara itself, the idea that all living things - plants, animals, humans - are interconnected and share the same breath. As a Unitarian Universalist, this naturally resonated with me, as one of the seven UU principles is "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." Anyone interested in ethnobotany, Native American teachings, or Ancestral Know.edge, (along with UUs!) will find this an interesting read.
Salmón includes 80 plants, from ash and blueberry to willow and yarrow, and it's the writing in the descriptions that rally shines. Each description includes native myths and stories related to the plant, personal reminiscences, and how different tribes used each plant.
The guiding principle is Iwigara itself, the idea that all living things - plants, animals, humans - are interconnected and share the same breath. As a Unitarian Universalist, this naturally resonated with me, as one of the seven UU principles is "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." Anyone interested in ethnobotany, Native American teachings, or Ancestral Know.edge, (along with UUs!) will find this an interesting read.
medinad's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
You could learn a lot from this read. I would say I was looking for something that broke down the chemistry of each plant further, but this was great for what it is.
lastokes61's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
This is a lovely book that explains the knowledge and relationship of 80 plants from the North American native tribes. The different groups of American Indians are identified based on geographic location on the continent and their traditions. Each plant entry relates the uses and importance of the plant to the different groups. It includes photos and descriptions of each plant and its uses, how to identify and harvest, and health benefits. The author described it as a merging of science with the ethnobotanical traditions of the American Indian tribes. This would make a very good reference book for anyone studying ethnobotany of North America.
decie's review
informative
slow-paced
5.0
format note - I don't regret reading this as an audiobook, but I do think the visuals would have added a lot, and there were a few stretches of lists of plants and uses with minimal additions that were hard to listen to. not holding that against the book itself (it's well balanced overall and that information is so valuable!!) but I would have skimmed though some parts for cultural notes and regionally relevant plants in the e/physical book.
format aside, this was an incredible book and I learned a ton. I've been looking for more native edibles to add my yard/garden instead of relying on common introduced plants. I've also been looking for native plants to help replace some of the medicinal and hygiene products that are tricky to buy without inadvertently supporting the occupation of palestine/the exploitation of the global south/the western empire in general. this delivered, and packaged the information with cultural and historical context that will help me to respect this land, her peoples, and the plant allies that support all of us. I'd love to pick up a copy to use as a resource.
format aside, this was an incredible book and I learned a ton. I've been looking for more native edibles to add my yard/garden instead of relying on common introduced plants. I've also been looking for native plants to help replace some of the medicinal and hygiene products that are tricky to buy without inadvertently supporting the occupation of palestine/the exploitation of the global south/the western empire in general. this delivered, and packaged the information with cultural and historical context that will help me to respect this land, her peoples, and the plant allies that support all of us. I'd love to pick up a copy to use as a resource.
sriq's review
"The difference is that when a raspberry fruit is picked, the torus (the receptacle at the end of the short stem on which the fruit rest) stays on the plant, leaving the characteristic hollow inside raspberry fruits. When a blackberry is picked, the torus stays inside the fruit."
"The Chumash believe that the souls of the dead have their eyes pecked out by two ravens in the afterlife and that the soul then stretches out its arms and picks a poppy to fill in each empty eye socket, whereupon it can see again."
"In many American Indian languages, there is no word for poison, nor are there any words for poisonous plants;"
"[Coyote] spoke to the [horsetail] and made a promise: if it held him while he pulled his way back onto dry land and safety, he would use his powers to make the plant and all its relatives beautiful."
"The Chumash believe that the souls of the dead have their eyes pecked out by two ravens in the afterlife and that the soul then stretches out its arms and picks a poppy to fill in each empty eye socket, whereupon it can see again."
"In many American Indian languages, there is no word for poison, nor are there any words for poisonous plants;"
"[Coyote] spoke to the [horsetail] and made a promise: if it held him while he pulled his way back onto dry land and safety, he would use his powers to make the plant and all its relatives beautiful."