Sweetgrass

Sweetgrass by Theresa Meuse and Jessica Jerome is part of Nimbus Publishing’s Indigenous Knowledge Series. In Sweetgrass, readers learn the Mi’kmaw tradition of gathering sweetgrass in the summer.

Cousin’s Matthew and Warren are going sweetgrass picking with their Auntie. Although Matthew has been many times, this will be Warren’s first time going out onto the land with auntie to collect the sacred medicine. Reader learn all about picking sweetgrass and honouring Mother Earth through the story of their day together.

This narrative non-fiction story about cousins and their aunt is specific to the Mi’kmaw way of collecting sweetgrass, preparing it for ceremony and honouring Mother Earth. Many Indigenous cultures also collect and use sweetgrass but author Theresa Meuse share’s a story from her culture with readers. The writing is informative in a gentle and relaxed way. Although the story is longer in text, it feels like a beautiful summer day out on the land learning through doing. Theresa Meuse explains to readers where to find the sweetgrass, it’s uses and how to take only enough for the community and nothing more. 

Jessica Jerome’s illustrations are sweeping, full of colour and life, just like the middle of the summer. The landscapes are inviting without being overly busy, focusing on the sweetgrass, the cousins and their aunt and the gifts of Mother Earth.