NOTES

Nahuatl Fun Fact
Avocados: their Spanish name, “aguacate,” is derived from the Aztec word for “testicle.”

Braiding Sweet Grass

As with the traditional braiding of sweetgrass, the ultimate purpose of this book is to weave together three ways of knowing: scientific knowledge, Indigenous knowledge, and the knowledge of the author herself, an Anishinabekwe scientist.

This is also connecting to the stages of learning as shared by Yoon Soo!

What I love about this book:

It’s part memoir, part biological sciences, and part Anishinabekwe cultural teachings. It’s making me feel more confident about weaving together my own writing with less anxiety about mixing genres.

I’m finding these sorts of books really engaging, they are truly intersectional writing. They don’t have a completely clear “bookstore” genre. When I went searching for “Falling back in Love with being human” by Kai Cheng Thom I went to 3 bookstores, and each one had the book cross-listed under “poetry” “self-help” spirituality” and “memoir.”

Maybe not great for finding the text in the bookshop :P but makes for such a rich story experience.

Both texts are models of “Ideal Womanhood” that have had a large presence in my life. One is giving “Trad Wife” vibes, the other is a great fucking jam by two of the most legendary underground hip-hop duos. Both are problematic as the ideal woman is defined by a male author who wants to “have/own” her.

Proverbs 31

The Woman who
Fears the Lord

10  4 uAn excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

11  The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

12  She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

13  She seeks wool and flax,

and works with willing hands.

14  She is like the ships of the merchant;

she brings her food from afar.

15  She rises while it is yet night

and provides food for her household

and portions for her maidens.

16  She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.

17  She dresses herself with strength

and makes her arms strong.

18  She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

19  She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

20  She opens her hand to the poor

and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21  She is not afraid of snow for her household,

for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

22  She makes bed coverings for herself;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23  Her husband is known in the gates

when he sits among the elders of the land.

24  She makes linen garments and sells them;

she delivers sashes to the merchant.

25  strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

26  She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27  She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28  Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

29  “Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

30  charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31  Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates.

the HAFU experience - So much relatable expereince here