As Long as Grass Grows

Dina Gilio-Whitaker's "As Long as Grass Grows" examines the relationship between Native Americans and environmental justice from colonization through present day. The book connects historical events to modern environmental conflicts, using the Standing Rock protests as a central case study. The text traces how European colonization disrupted indigenous relationships with land and natural resources through forced displacement, legal restrictions, and cultural destruction. It details the clash between Native American concepts of environmental stewardship and Western views of land ownership and resource exploitation. Gilio-Whitaker, a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes and scholar of American Indian Studies, documents ongoing indigenous resistance movements and their fight for environmental sovereignty. The narrative moves from historical treaty violations to contemporary pipeline protests, revealing patterns of systematic exclusion from environmental decision-making. The book presents a critical examination of American environmentalism, challenging readers to recognize how conservation movements have often perpetuated colonial power structures rather than embracing indigenous environmental knowledge and rights.

Readers value this book's detailed examination of Indigenous environmental movements and their intersection with sovereignty rights. Many note it fills knowledge gaps about Native American environmental justice beyond Standing Rock. Readers appreciate: - Clear connections between historical treaties and modern conflicts - Documentation of Indigenous women's leadership roles - Accessible academic writing style for non-specialists Common criticisms: - Dense academic language in some sections - Assumes prior knowledge of certain historical events - Some readers wanted more solutions/path forward Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (300+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Finally contextualizes environmental justice within Indigenous history" - Goodreads reviewer "Could have used more concrete examples of successful tribal environmental programs" - Amazon reviewer "Important perspective but occasionally gets bogged down in academic terminology" - LibraryThing review

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🌿 The term "environmental justice" was first coined in 1982 during protests against toxic waste dumping in Warren County, North Carolina - decades after Native Americans had been fighting similar battles. 🏔️ The author, Dina Gilio-Whitaker, is a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes and teaches American Indian Studies at California State University San Marcos. 🌎 The Standing Rock protests (2016-2017) involved representatives from over 300 Native American tribes - the largest gathering of Native nations in modern American history. 🌳 The U.S. National Park System was created largely through the forced removal of Indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands, including places like Yellowstone and Yosemite. 🔍 The book's title "As Long as Grass Grows" references a phrase commonly used in early American treaties with Native tribes, promising that their rights would be protected "as long as grass grows and water runs."