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The first astronomers : how indigenous elders read the stars / Duane Hamacher ; with elders and knowledge holders Ghillar Michael Anderson [and five others].

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublisher: Crows Nest, NSW : Allen & Unwin, 2022Description: xiv, 290 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 24 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9781760877200
  • 1760877204
Subject(s):
Contents:
Prologue -- Star knowledge -- The nearest star -- The Moon -- The wandering stars -- The twinkling stars -- The seasonal stars -- The variable stars -- The cataclysmic stars -- The navigational stars -- The falling stars -- Epilogue.
Summary: The First Astronomers is the first book to reveal the rich knowledge of the stars and the planets held by First Peoples around the world. Our eyes have been drawn away from the skies to our screens. We no longer look to the stars to forecast the weather, predict the seasons or plant our gardens. Most of us cannot even see the Milky Way. But First Nations Elders around the world still maintain this knowledge, and there is much we can learn from them. These Elders are expert observers of the stars. They teach that everything on the land is reflected in the sky, and everything in the sky is reflected on the land. How does this work, and how can we better understand our place in the universe? Guided by six First Nations Elders, Duane Hamacher takes us on a journey across space and time to reveal the wisdom of the first astronomers. These living systems of knowledge challenge conventional ideas about the nature of science and the longevity of oral tradition. Indigenous science is dynamic, adapting to changes in the skies and on Earth, pointing the way for a world facing the profound disruptions of climate change.
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library NonFiction 520.8999 H198 Available 33111011306798
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The First Astronomers is the first book to reveal the rich knowledge of the stars and the planets held by First Peoples around the world.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The First Astronomers is the first book to reveal the rich knowledge of the stars and the planets held by First Peoples around the world. Our eyes have been drawn away from the skies to our screens. We no longer look to the stars to forecast the weather, predict the seasons or plant our gardens. Most of us cannot even see the Milky Way. But First Nations Elders around the world still maintain this knowledge, and there is much we can learn from them. These Elders are expert observers of the stars. They teach that everything on the land is reflected in the sky, and everything in the sky is reflected on the land. How does this work, and how can we better understand our place in the universe? Guided by six First Nations Elders, Duane Hamacher takes us on a journey across space and time to reveal the wisdom of the first astronomers. These living systems of knowledge challenge conventional ideas about the nature of science and the longevity of oral tradition. Indigenous science is dynamic, adapting to changes in the skies and on Earth, pointing the way for a world facing the profound disruptions of climate change.

Prologue -- Star knowledge -- The nearest star -- The Moon -- The wandering stars -- The twinkling stars -- The seasonal stars -- The variable stars -- The cataclysmic stars -- The navigational stars -- The falling stars -- Epilogue.

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