Picking Sweetgrass

In Picking Sweetgrass, a young boy recalls a cherished childhood memory of gathering sweetgrass with his grandmother, Ma. On a bright Saturday morning, he escapes household chores to join her in the field, where she patiently teaches him how to identify and pick the fragrant sweetgrass used in her black ash baskets. Through Ma’s careful instruction and loving presence, the boy gains not only practical knowledge but a deeper connection to her artistry and Ojibwe traditions. The sensory richness of the sweetgrass, the rhythm of the day, and the grandmother’s wisdom weave a lasting memory.

Narrated with warmth and nostalgia, the story honors Indigenous knowledge, family heritage, and the enduring power of memory. The book also pays tribute to Josephine Robinson, the author’s grandmother and a renowned Ojibwe basket maker from the White Earth Reservation, whose life and artistry are detailed in the book’s biographical section.