Teresa Peterson talks about living and gardening seasonally at Drury Lane Books to celebrate the release of "Perennial Ceremony: Lessons and Gifts from a Dakota Garden"

Aug 13, 2024 09:41AM ● By Content Editor

Photo: Teresa Peterson reads a passage from her newest book Perennial Ceremony. All photos by Alex Dobbins.

By Alex Dobbins for Boreal Community Media - August 13, 2024

Teresa Peterson, Utuhu Cistinna Win, is Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota, and a citizen of the Upper Sioux Community. Peterson is the author of the newly released book Perennial Ceremony: Lessons and Gifts from a Dakota Garden (U of M Press, 2024), and visited Drury Lane Books in Grand Marais last weekend for an author talk and seed exchange. The event brought in many gardening lovers and readers alike. Peterson read several excerpts from the book and told stories from her childhood that helped instill who she is as a Dakota gardener. She explained to the audience how she prefers to live seasonally and naturally, and then shared how her book is broken down by the four Dakota Seasons: Wetu (Summer), Bdoketu (Summer), Ptanyetu (Fall), and Waniyetu (Winter).

The book is filled with an assortment of personal stories, recipes, prose, and Dakota wisdom. Peterson continuously encouraged the audience to reclaim, honor, and observe the cycles of the seasons in our gardens and to find ways to practice ceremony even in little moments.

The author talk ended with a book signing, questions from the audience, tasty fresh baked goods from recipes included in the book, and a seed exchange.

Drury Lane Books hosted Teresa Peterson, Utuhu Cistinna Win, last weekend for an author talk and seed exchange.

Author Teresa Peterson answers questions and advises readers on gardening.

A seed exchange and freshly made hors d'oeuvre (with recipes from the book) were set up for the attendees during the Author Talk.

Jalapeno Cheddar Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Brownies, and Garden Salsa were served. All recipes from Perennial Ceremony: Lessons and Gifts from a Dakota Garden.