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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What American elm does the author describe having been named the champion for its species in "Asters and Goldenrod"?

2. According to the author in "Skywoman Falling," sweetgrass is one of how many sacred plants of her people?

3. What is said to be the leader of the birds in the Onondaga address in "Allegiance to Gratitude"?

4. What does the author say the word for sweetgrass is in her people's language in the Preface?

5. Who is described in "Maple Sugar Moon" as "the Anishinaabe Original Man" (79)?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do trees communicate?

2. How does the Pledge of Allegiance differ from the Thanksgiving Address?

3. How did the author's college advisor respond when they first met about her interest in botany?

4. What is significant about the narrative style in "Witch Hazel"?

5. Trace the relocations of the author's ancestors. Where did they originate and where are they now?

6. How did the author go about making maple syrup with her daughters?

7. What does witch hazel symbolize in the narrative?

8. What is the predominant theme in Tending Sweetgrass?

9. Who is described collecting pecans in “The Council of Pecans”? What is the importance of this story?

10. What is one of the significant morals of the Skywoman story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the dichotomy between traditional knowledge and science in Braiding Sweetgrass. How are the approaches to these fields different? How did the author become immersed in each? How did she resolve the differences between the two?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the story of Skywoman and how this Creation story influences Native American actions, culture, and traditions. How does the Skywoman story differ from the story of Genesis in the Judeo-Christian Creation story? How are these differences reflected in our societies? What does Skywoman represent?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the themes of immigration and naturalization among humans, plants, and animals in Braiding Sweetgrass. What does immigration mean in this regard? What does naturalization mean? In whose footsteps should we follow? Why?

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