Sweetgrass

Contemporary Canadian children’s literature is a site brimming with resurgent Indigenous voices, and Sweetgrass is strong evidence of that. For children and all others, this buoyant and inspiring picture book enables intergroup – intercultural – understandings necessary for truth and reconciliation and a shared harmonious future in the nation. Indeed, the book affords opportunities for significant cultural knowledge and learning about self and others—all so foundational to living in democratic societies characterized by multiple diversities and pluralities.

Recounted by an omniscient cultural narrator (Mi’kmaw), this sequential narrative recalls and documents, for now and posterity, a time when an auntie took two boys under 12, one experienced (Matthew) and one a novice (Warren), on an important sociocultural, socio-educational journey of sweetgrass picking in a place “where the salt water meets fresh water” on the Atlantic coast (likely Nova Scotia).

Similar to another recent and impressive publication, Grandfather’s Reminder, this thoughtfully illustrated and captivating monograph depicts the ceremonial induction/installation of a novice in important sociocultural, and cosmological and ecological ways of being, knowing, and living by more knowledgeable others (Auntie and Matthew). They are of a social group for whom the induction is vital for the continuity of such beliefs and practices—the preservation of their indigenous identities—in this case (Mi’kmaw). And, perhaps signaling, the importance of gender, responsibility, and relationality in the social locations of the two female creators of the book, it is an “Auntie” who takes the boys on this important spiritual journey-quest to pick sweetgrass—a plant with a “pleasant fragrance” and “known as one of the four sacred medicines (the others being “cedar, sage, ceremonial tobacco.”) These medicines are all beautifully represented (images and words) on page five, in circular fashion, spread around a small, tan, leather medicine pouch, with beaded tie strings, that the boys will carry with them on their quest.

Because the book pivots on detailing, recalling, reliving and communicating important ceremonial practices relevant to picking sweetgrass to its audiences, each important step of the process is explained. For instance, step one concerns what should happen before leaving on the quest (e.g., preparation—what to wear and why: long-sleeved shirts, pans, rubber boots or old sneakers and hats). When questioned about these, the aunt explained:

We will be picking sweetgrass where other types of grasses grow, and they can make your skin itchy. Wearing long sleeves can prevent that. The ground where the sweetgrass grows can be soggy in spots, and even muddy, so wearing old footwear or rubber boots will keep your feet dry. Also, there aren’t any trees or bushes to give us shade while we pick the sweetgrass—that’s why I suggest you wear a hat.

Through offering such advice, the Auntie displays the rich and respected historical, and lived, land-based knowledge of an elder and cultural insider throughout the monograph. This is illustrated by a reminder from her “[o]nce they [the boys] were properly dressed and ready to go.” she asked, “Did you remember your sacred medicines to make an offering?” Nodding yes, the boys “knew that when a person takes something from Mother Earth—like sweetgrass—they should offer something back as a sign of being thankful. Today they would leave some sacred medicines on the ground to thank Mother Earth for providing sweetgrass, and to thank the sweetgrass for giving of itself for them to pick.” Following the preceding exchange, the Auntie reminded the boys to always use the “medicines in a good way”, and that they should be “given with a good heart.” For this reviewer, such teachings are at the pinnacle of careful and respectful extractive practices vis-à-vis the earth and what she provides and are pivotal learnings for all.

Overall, there is much rich, cultural knowledge, and understandings evident throughout this lovingly detailed picture book. Sweetgrass undeniably serves as an excellent procedural text for learning about and understanding each step involved in the cultural practices of the Mi’kmaw regarding sweetgrass picking under the guidance and tutelage of caring Auntie. Reverent and respectful of Mother Earth, the auntie instills values and principles of responsible and mindful extraction from our Earth Mother. In view of the climate crisis and the Earth’s peril, the Auntie’s teachings are needed everywhere now—homes, classrooms, libraries and community centres.

As I made my way through the book, Meuse’s carefully chosen words and Jerome’s complementary and deftly created images instilled calmness, reverence, joy, and appreciation for this noteworthy and much needed picture book of loving relationality, cultural, and ecological insights coming to us from their unique Mi’kmaw perspectives and necessary for all.