"What Does the Earth Ask of Us?"

We are showered every day with the gifts of the Earth and yet we are tied to institutions which relentlessly ask what more can we take? Drawing upon both scientific and indigenous knowledges, this talk explores the covenant of reciprocity, how might we use the gifts and the responsibilities of human people in support of mutual thriving in a time of ecological crisis.

Click Here For The Virtual Program!

Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.

She is the author of the New York Times bestselling collection of essays Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants as well as Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses.

Kimmerer is a 2022 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology, and the founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment.

Robin Wall Kimmerer will be giving her presentation at Grand Valley State University on Wednesday, November 8, at 11:15 am at the Kirkhof Center Grand River Room.

Event seating is open to the public. 

The event will be live-streamed at two GVSU Campuses:

Grand Rapids: Loosemore Auditorium (Richard M. DeVos Center, 401 West Fulton Street)

Allendale: Pere Marquette Room (Russel H. Kirkhof Center, 1 Campus Dr) 

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Click here if you will be attending with a group

Click here to request disability accommodation

Join the event virtually! Register for the event, in order to receive the Zoom link and watch the live stream from your own device.

Register today!

Registration is not required to attend the live event. 

Explore Healing, Gratitude and Responsibility

Native Justice Healing Stories

Community Sign Installation and Land Acknowledgment (Example)

Learn By Doing

Completing the Journey: A Graphic Narrative about NAGPRA and Repatriation (Shannon Martin's graphic novel)

MADRE: Indigenous Women Fighting for Climate Justice

Seven Generations (Ron McLester from Algonquin College explaining Seven Generations teaching)

Resources & Links

GVSU Library Native American Subject Guide

GVSU NAAC Homepage

Link to NPR's On Being

Link to Dr. Kimmerer's site

Braiding Sweetgrass Discussion & Question Guide

Big Read Study Guide

Link to GVSU Teach-In

The Conversation Continues...at the GVSU Teach-In!

The 2023 GVSU Teach-In kicks off with this highly anticipated talk live-streamed to Loosemore Auditorium! Be sure to swing by the Teach-In face-to-face sessions, which will be taking place on the downtown Pew campus on November 8 and on the Allendale campus on November 9. 

Visit the Teach-In Website for full details!