Guide to Lakota Plant Use
Plant Guide Book | in development
“There is a belief among many that plants are sentient beings. That is to say, they are conscious, capable of feeling and perception.” - Richard T. Sherman
We are collaborating with renowned ethnobotanist Richard T. Sherman to develop a plant guide book based on his life-long ethnobotanical work in the Badlands area of South Dakota.
With a focus on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, this book highlights plants found throughout the entire Great Plains. Designed to be small enough to take into the field, the book will feature original photography and illustrations that allow a person to locate, identify, and harvest plants at all times of year. For each plant, the guide will pair Lakota names and medicinal or culinary traditions with Western scientific botanical information. In addition to plant identification, the field guide will include short essays, oral histories, and recipes provided by Richard and Lakota scholars, elders, and chefs linking plants to culture, insight, and food.
The book is created through a collaboration between Richard and the team behind Topography. The proposal and design is created by the immensly talented Michele Graffieti. While our team is helping to fundraise for these projects and contributing our time and skillsets, all funds and proceeds will go to Richard and his collaborators.
