Influence of Indigenous Learning

Early in the book Lauren asks her dad for a book that details California plants and how Native Americans used them. As she perseveres through basically living on her own and having to survive with little knowledge, this is a key piece of information to know: what plants to eat and use in different ways.

As I read this part I couldn't help but think it was interesting that Butler included this tidbit in the book. Why did Butler choose the book to be about Indigenous uses of the plants? Was it because Indigenous peoples used every portion of the plant? Was it because they had some sort of special tie to the land and plants, unlike the colonizers?

These were things that popped into my head as I got to this part. Though the book's relation to Indigenous people is not very significant in the grand scheme of things, it made me wonder about the meaning behind all the small parts of the book we sometimes overlook. 

Maybe I was reading too intently, or maybe others have wondered similar things about other specific details in books; either way, it was a cool thought to ponder.


Comments

  1. L. MoffittMay 21, 2021 at 7:33 AM

    Another great post. Yes, this was an interesting aspect, and a deliberate one on Butler's part, I think, as you note. There's a definite sense that as civilization breaks down, survivors need to go back to these ways of living. However, there's a little bit of irony in that Lauren's Earthseed religion believes that human destiny is "among the stars." Isn't that perhaps also a colonization of sorts?? I have never quite known what to make of that aspect.

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