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A review by eva_e
Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science by Jessica Hernandez
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
The author, Dr. Jessica Hernandez shares deep knowledge that are rooted in the environment, place, community, and of course, Indigeneity. There is so much heart, brilliance, and responsibility modeled in this book. As a reader, it felt like an honor to hear from her family members as well as community leaders from all over the “Americas”. I really appreciate learning from an Indigenous woman who is active in Indigenous communities (including diasporic) and educational spaces.
I will note that my reading experience was somewhat challenged by repetition and redundancy in Dr.Hernandez’s writing. While I hold some critique for the editing/lack of editing, I also hold some serious inquiry around how much of my perspective and writing preferences have been groomed by colonial schooling, as a non-Indigenous WOC. I remember being TAUGHT (by white teachers) not to be “too repetitive,” and to avoid “over use” of certain words. What’s the limit that makes words “over used”? For me, perhaps, it’s just when the effect gets lost or buried… so I would say, despite my challenge with some of the writing, the writing was still easeful to read, even though the topics on the genocidal and ecocidal violence of colonialism are extremely heavy.
I deeply appreciate learning more about the complexities, history (beyond the euro settlers), and legacies of the peoples and lands of what is now called “Latin America”. As well as the similarities and stark differences of Indigenous Peoples in the settler colonial U.S. And, the information, counter narratives and experiences of IP in the PNW shared was extremely meaningful and motivating for me.
Some of the things I yearned for in the writing were:
- more balance of explanations in defining concepts — some felt overly explained while others, like colonialism or Indigeneity (which were core themes of the book) weren’t really explained.
- acknowledge the presence and impacts of different forms of colonialism (not just settler colonialism)
- allowing some of the quotes to stand on their own without pre-summarizing them and following with another summary or paraphrase after the quote.
- less use of “However” in starting sentences or paragraphs. (Although we can just giggle at that)
I will note that my reading experience was somewhat challenged by repetition and redundancy in Dr.Hernandez’s writing. While I hold some critique for the editing/lack of editing, I also hold some serious inquiry around how much of my perspective and writing preferences have been groomed by colonial schooling, as a non-Indigenous WOC. I remember being TAUGHT (by white teachers) not to be “too repetitive,” and to avoid “over use” of certain words. What’s the limit that makes words “over used”? For me, perhaps, it’s just when the effect gets lost or buried… so I would say, despite my challenge with some of the writing, the writing was still easeful to read, even though the topics on the genocidal and ecocidal violence of colonialism are extremely heavy.
I deeply appreciate learning more about the complexities, history (beyond the euro settlers), and legacies of the peoples and lands of what is now called “Latin America”. As well as the similarities and stark differences of Indigenous Peoples in the settler colonial U.S. And, the information, counter narratives and experiences of IP in the PNW shared was extremely meaningful and motivating for me.
Some of the things I yearned for in the writing were:
- more balance of explanations in defining concepts — some felt overly explained while others, like colonialism or Indigeneity (which were core themes of the book) weren’t really explained.
- acknowledge the presence and impacts of different forms of colonialism (not just settler colonialism)
- allowing some of the quotes to stand on their own without pre-summarizing them and following with another summary or paraphrase after the quote.
- less use of “However” in starting sentences or paragraphs. (Although we can just giggle at that)
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Colonisation, and Genocide