Continuing where the award winning book “Talking
Rocks” left off this work follows an earth scientist and Ojibwe elder as they
travel through three billion years of geological time exploring the ancient
rocks that make up a large part of the state of Minnesota. As the geologist
describes how these rocks formed and brings to life the ancient worlds they
created, the elder, through Native American stories, oral history, culture, and
science illustrates how his people had an intimate understanding of, and deep
respect for, these ancient rocks and the land they give shape to.
Traveling from Ely, Grand Portage, Gunflint Lake, and Isle
Royale in the northern part of the state south to Jeffers, Morton, and Blue
Mounds State Park the two find themselves discussing such diverse topics as the
nature of science, holistic geology, mining, science and spirituality, the
legacy of the fur trade, and much more.
Ancient Earth and the First Ancestors not only tells a
fascinating story that spans billions of years, but is also a wonderful chronicle
of two people from different cultural and scientific heritages learning to
understand, appreciate, and see the value and importance in each other’s way of
viewing this land, and the planet we all call home.
