The Importance of the Medicine Wheel and its

Revival
History

By Sandra Laframboise and Karen Sherbina

Introduction
The term "Medicine Wheel" is not a native term. Initially it was used in the late 1800's and early
1900 by Americans of European descent in reference to the Bighorn Medicine Wheel located
near Sheridan, Wyoming. Later, research on the Plains identified other features characterized by
a variety of stone circles and spoke configurations. Because of general similarities to the Bighorn
Wheel, the term "Medicine Wheel" was extended to describe them as well.
The Big Horn Medicine Wheel consists of a central circle of piled rock surrounded by a circle of
stones, "Rays" of stones travel out from the central core of rock and its surrounding circle. The
whole structure looks rather like the wheel of a bicycle from the air. There is no real consensus as
to when the medicine wheel began to appear in Native American Culture except to say that some
of the wheels date back two to four thousand years BC, the time of the Great Egyptian Pyramids.
Some archaeologist and geologist even go as far as saying that The Big Horn Medicine Wheel is
as old as a few million years.

Big Horn Medicine Wheel Reprinted from internet (aged between 1 million to 65 million years)
Alberta, Canada has about 66% of all known medicine wheels (a total of 46) this suggests that
Southern Alberta was a central meeting place for many Plains tribes who followed Medicine

Wheel ceremonies. A majority of these ceremonies were to celebrate the Summer Solstice - June
21st, while other ceremonies would carry out through the summer season.
These ceremonies would make it correct to say that a Medicine Wheel is a physical manifestation
of our Spiritual energy. In other words an outward expression of our internal dialogue with the
Creator (God) and the spirit within.
The individual or community can see what is going on within by examining what has manifested
outwardly in the mirror like situation the Medicine Wheel shows us. It is also a wheel of
protection and it enables us, and allows us to gather surrounding energies into a focal point and
to commune with Spirit, Self and Nature. Thus, it is a model to be used to view self, society, or
anything that one could ever think of looking into. Medicine Wheel teachings are vast and
limitless and form the basis of most First Nations beliefs - The great circle of Life.
These teachings are among the oldest teachings of First Nations people. The teachings found on
the Medicine Wheel create a bio-psychosocial and spiritual foundation for human behaviour and
interaction. The medicine wheel teachings are about walking the earth in a peaceful and good
way, they assist in helping to seek; healthy minds (East), strong inner spirits (South), inner
peace(West) and strong healthy bodies (North).
As mentioned earlier, a Medicine Wheel can best be described as a mirror within, which
everything about the human condition is reflected back. It requires courage to look into the
mirror and really see what is being reflected back about an individual's life. It helps us with our
creative "Vision", to see exactly where we are in life and which areas we need to work on and
develop in order to realize our full potential. It is a tool to be used for the upliftment and
betterment of humankind, healing and connecting to the Infinite.
Today, the Medicine Wheel has become a major symbol of peaceful interaction among all living
beings on Mother Earth... representing harmonious connections.
Scattered across North America there are a number of stone Medicine Wheels. Some are
extremely large circles greater than 12 meters in diameter. They are the remains of special
ceremonial dances and spiritual events celebrated by the Plains First Nations people.
Despite their physical existence, there is a lot of mystery that surrounds the Medicine Wheel.
Without written records, little is understood about their meaning. The ancient medicine wheels
themselves contain significant stellar and cosmological alignments as the Plains people believe
that Star Woman fell to the Earth to help create Turtle Island. One such alignment is that the
wheel points towards the rising sun or to certain star nation constellation(s).
Over time, Medicine Wheels have changed and evolved into many different kinds and have
provided a tangible mechanism upon which the healing of people,communities and nations can
be focused.
The term "Medicine" as it is used by First Nations people does not refer to drugs or herbal
remedies. It is used within the context of inner spiritual energy and healing or an enlightened

experience often referred to as "spiritual energy's"... The Medicine Wheel and its sacred
teachings assist individuals along the path towards mental, spiritual, emotional and physical
enlightenment.
There have been many books written about the Medicine Wheel, and they often differ as to the
placement of some of the teachings. For example, there are some Lakota teachers who place the
yellow race in the west and the black race in the east; others suggest the wheel is walked in a
counter-clockwise direction. So little is really known about the original teachings of this ancient
tool, however, it is safe to say that there is probably no wrong way to build a wheel. It is more of
a question of what resonates within each individual as he/she studies the teachings. I can only
speak about the Medicine Wheel according to my teachings and that I have come to know
through out my spiritual walk. Within this paper I am describing three types of Medicine Wheels
which I have worked with over the years.
Directions and their Meanings
The Cree/Algonquin/Plains Medicine Wheel

The Medicine Wheel teachings are based on a circular pattern and cyclical set of four: the four
Seasons, the four stages of Life, the four Bio-psychosocial and spiritual aspect of a person.
The Medicine Wheel always centers on the individual. The Ceremonial Medicine Wheel that I
use incorporates all of these aspects. They can be drawn on paper or made out of rocks in the
corner of a room or in a garden. The important thing to remember is that this is an exercise in
finding out about you.

The Medicine Wheel in the diagram above incorporates many of the teachings I have received
over the years from the various Elders I have met and have received teachings from.
My family also has its own medicine wheel. Our family uses dark blue in the direction of the
West. The animal in the South is also different as we put the Wolf there.
A person can also develop their own Medicine Wheel and put their own Animal/Spirit Helpers in
the directions once they have gotten in touch with them. This knowing may happen in ceremony,
visions, or dreams. I have developed my personal Medicine Wheel in which I put a different
animal representing the same meaning. and which has different animal but same meaning: In my
personal Medicine Wheel the directions and animals are as follows: East Eagle, South Red
Tail Hawk, West Owl, North Blue Heron. These birds are a reflection of who I am and what
gifts were granted to me. They are the animals that have revealed themselves through my walk in
life.
A Medicine Wheel of Life's Learning
with Southern Plains /Sioux/Plains Cree and Lakota Colors

The above Medicine Wheel recognizes that Aboriginal people are spirit, heart, mind and body.
Historically, mainstream education systems focussed on the mind, and in some cases, the body
(physical education, dance...). It has not acknowledged the spirit and the heart, believing those to
be the purview of the church. Today many Aboriginal People are feeling the effects of only
having 50% of them taken into consideration in the classroom. Because of this, there is a large
drop out rate, high levels of illiteracy and dyslexia in Aboriginal People who did not fit into the
formal school systems. Aboriginal people recognize the importance of using methodologies that
addresses all four elements of being.
Building the Medicine Wheel
Rock Medicine Wheels

Picture Reprinted from internet

One of the main stone medicine wheels that is practiced consists of 36 stones laid in a certain
way creating the beautiful circle above.
The stones are laid beginning in the center, with the first Rock being the Creator, the second in
the East being Mother Earth, and going clockwise the third in the South-West for Father Sun, the
fourth in the North-West for Grandmother Moon, the fifth a little more to the North-West for
Turtle, the sixth in the North for Frog, the 7th in the North-East for Thunderbird, the 8th in the
East corner near to the South for Butterfly. This arrangement completes the inner circle.
Then we continue by laying down the corner stones of the four Cardinal Directions, the 9th being
in the East representing the Eagle, the 10th being in the South representing
Mouse/Wolf/Coyote/Red Tail Hawk, the 11th stone laid down in the West representing Brown
Bear, and the 12th stone in the North representing White Calf Buffalo Woman.
The next to last process of a laying down rocks in the circle is the outer circle beginning again in
the North-East beside the 9th rock we laid down the 13th rock and I put the Snow Geese, the
14th rock I put the Otter, the 15th rock I put Cat and it goes on in a circle till we meet the 9th
rock of the East.
By then you have laid your inner circle and your outer circle. It is time to make your criss-cross
inside the outer circle to touch the inner circle.
The criss-cross on the inside of the outer circle but not inside the inner circle is your final step.
Again you begin this one in the North-East stone number 9 and going down the south just
touching the inner circle till it becomes rock number 27. Again in the East you would begin the
criss-cross starting with rock number 28 until all the rocks laid down touch the inner center
marking rock number 30. Then you lay more rocks from the south to the inner circle rocks till it
becomes number 31 keeping in mind that no criss-cross stones is to enter the inner circle. Lastly,
starting from the number 12 going inside the outer circle towards the inner circle you would lay
down rock number 34 to 36, keeping in mind that each rock has a special representation for you
and an animal spirit helper.

You can build a medicine wheel out of all kinds or rocks which has special meaning to you and
place it in your garden, the corner of a room or you can draw a medicine wheel on paper. What
ever the venue, it is important to remember that this is another tool to be used on your healing
and spiritual journeys.
Working the Medicine Wheel
The Medicine Wheel can be called a mental construct. It orients us on a time-space continuum.
The Wheel divides our world into different directions and applies specific meaning and
significance to each direction. This directional orientation is achieved by simple observation of
the natural world. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Regardless of where we sit on the
globe there are four phases of the moon and typically four recognized seasons. These phases and
seasons follow each other in a circular and sequential rotation, because of this, our personal
medicine wheels are a reflection of our relationship to the natural circular evolvement of the
world.
The Wheel can be used practically to help an individual understand and deal with specific life
circumstances (e.g. jobs, relationships, and illness). One example is the hormonal cycles
manifesting from the brain, ovaries, and uterus. These are easily understood in terms of the
Wheel. It ties these events to natural lunar rhythms both physically and energetically. Within the
framework of the Medicine Wheel we see ovulation and conception occur in the full moon of the
east while, menses and birth occur in the new moon of the west. This framework allows one to
look at these experiences in a new way, a way that is more easily understood because it is related
to our experience of the natural world. Working the Medicine Wheel Archetype empowers the
individual. It gives one new tools with which to embrace the chaos of life. It serves as a way to
focus and reconnect to the rhythms of the natural world.
The Wheel can also be used to contemplate the flow of events unfolding over months, years or a
lifetime. One could even apply this to familial patterns and past lifetimes.
Our consensual experience of the physical world determines a lot of what goes where on the
Medicine Wheel. Working the Wheel is accomplished in both consensual reality and through
personal introspection.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many different ways to utilize or set up a Medicine Wheel. Despite this,
the philosophies/principals and effective outcome are the same. It teaches us that we have four
aspects to our nature; the physical, the mental, the emotional, and the spiritual. Each of these
aspects must be equally developed in a healthy, well-balanced human being through the
development stages of our life. To bring ourselves into balance in each area puts us in balance.
Equal emphasis needs to be given to each of the directions of the Wheel. This can be
accomplished through sheer will power or methodical introspection and action. However, if we
do not do this, then we, Aboriginal People, believe that we are not walking in balance.
http://www.dancingtoeaglespiritsociety.org/medwheel.php

Lessons and gifts from the EAST; the place of first light, spring, and birth,
include:
Warmth of the spirit, Purity, trust, and hope, Unconditional love, Courage,
Truthfulness, Guidance and leadership, Capacity to remain in the present
moment.
Lessons and gifts from the SOUTH; the place of summer and youth,
include:
Generosity, sensitivity, and loyalty, Romantic love, Testing of the physical
body/self-control, Gifts of music and art, Capacity to express feelings
openly in ways respectful to others.
Lessons and gifts from the WEST; the place of autumn and adulthood,
include:
Dreams, prayers, and meditation, Perseverance when challenged, Balance
between passionate, loyalty and spiritual insight, Use of personal objects,
sacred objects, Understanding of lifes meaning, Fasting, ceremony, selfknowledge, and vision.
Lessons and gifts from the NORTH; the place of winter and elders, include:
Intellectual wisdom, Ability to complete tasks that began as a vision,
Detachment from hate, jealousy, desire, anger, and fear, Ability to see the
past, present and future as interrelated.
https://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/mentalhealth/prevention/pdf/medicinewheel-all.pdf
Medicine wheels were common places to celebrate the Sun/Thirst dance.
they simply adopted the knowledge as a universal symbol of peaceful
interaction among nations, and there is nothing unusual about that.
However, the knowledge is expended, they cross cultural understanding.
My language has a word for "Medicine" but only as it is used in the context
of physical healing A Medicine Wheel represents the healing of the whole
self, our word for inner spiritual healing, medicine woman/man, is
"halaayt". Wherever the phrase "Medicine Wheel" came from, it is still a
gentle term and one that is easily identified as a good thing, so I'm not
going to try to fix what really "ain't broke."
For the Great Plains, the Wheels were created to acknowledge and
celebrate the power of the Sun, hence their central significance at the
Sun/Thirst Dance (Photo above, Arapaho Sun Dance, 1893.)

The Plains Medicine Wheel knowledge include the seven

sacred ceremonies and the seven sacred teachings of White Buffalo Calf
Woman. These, for example, were subsequently adopted by the Ojibwa,
Chippewa, Potowatami (Anishinaabe) people and called the "Seven
Grandfather teachings"); they changed the emphasis from female to a
male perspective as part of their cultural world view. (Respect, Honour,
Wisdom, Courage, Love, Humility, Honesty).
Big Horn is the largest and measures seventy meters across; on the June
Solstice, a ray from the Sun cuts directly across it. Big Horn consists of a
central circle of piled rock surrounded by a circle of stone; "Rays" of
stones travel out from the central core of rock and its surrounding circle.
The whole structure looks rather like the wheel of a bicycle.
Despite their physical existence, there is still a lot of mystery surrounding
them, because without written records, so little is understood as to their
true meaning. Many theories abound, including: (a) the wheels contain
significant stellar and cosmological alignments, specifically designed in
other words to point towards the rising sun or to certain star nation
constellation(s); (b) the performance of specific rituals and ceremonies
that have been lost to the mists of time.
There have been many books written about the Medicine Wheel with some
of the knowledge placed in difference directions. For example, red people
in the west and black people in the east; Anishinaabe version places the
Red People in the South and the Black People in the West. They
sometimes replace the yellow and white with green and blue. Others
suggest the wheel is walked in a counter-clockwise direction.
As so little is really known, there is really no wrong way to build a wheel,
A circular walk after all has no beginning and no end no matter which
direction you start. It is more of a question of what resonates within the
world view of each tribal culture as they seek their own understandings
through the expression of building a medicine wheel.
I can only speak from my own knowledge, research and what has been
taught to me. "Some things on the wheel", as one of my teachers once
said to me "are simply based on geographical logic." For example, where
the main colours of human moreorless currently originated' "Logic." he
said, White in the North, Yellow in the East, Black in the South, Red in the
West. http://www.shannonthunderbird.com/medicine_wheel_teachings.htm

Medicine Wheel and Character Education in the 21st Century, by Shannon

Thunderbird, M.A.
Coast Tsimshian First Nations, Publisher: Teya Peya Books, 2010
(copyrighted)
PREAMBLE
We have no buildings, there are no steeples. The lake is our church, the
evergreen trees are our living saints if we must speak in your language.
Leave us to see beauty everyday rather than find it only in our memories.
(Taos Pueblo Elder)
"Medicine wheel teachings are among the oldest of First Nations people
and are based on the seven directions (North, East, South West, Life
above the earth, life on the earth, life within each of us). Native people
are being called back to share our sacred medicine wheel teachings;
wisdom that influenced tribal life for thousands of years. We are living in a
time of fractured families, countries at war, and the innocent caught up in
the maelstrom of "power over" mentalities. Yet, it does not have to be this
way. The Tsimshian call it Ama't'ilgoolsk, ama'diduuls, or "good thoughts,
good life". My book is about, clearing physical, spiritual, emotional mental
debris so that another story emerges; a story of hope, sharing,
understanding, survival and, ultimately, the triumph of the human spirit.
The Lakhota call it, Hanta Ho, or clearing the way, Ojibwa call it Mene
Doh, or a "state of revitalization"; the Mi'gmaq call it Gsite'taqan or
"something to be cherished or valued", which extends to re-infusing the
earth and its citizens with healthy attitudes and right actions. Certainly,
witnessing the land come back to life cannot help but impact everyone in
a good way.
Canada's Original People lived lives of dignity and integrity, we did not
engage in sordid behaviour; we did not subjugate a genders, or destroy
another tribe; instead, we lived lives of deep meaning and substance that
held at its centre an abiding respect for the land which gave us our
physical (east) spiritual (south), emotional (west), mental (north),
sustenance. We came into our leadership by staying in our personal and
collective power, by showing up and choosing to be accountable; by
extending honour and respect to all living beings. We lived by the dictate:
"Begin as you mean to carry on.
We honoured our heritage, we were flexible and fluid in our dealings with
each other. Every day, we demonstrated by our behaviour the power of
"right action", and its components of clarity, objectivity and discernment.
We were open to outcomes, not attached to them which would have
limited the scope of our lives. In other words, we paid attention to what

had heart and meaning because above all else, we knew that it was the
heart that held our memories; when we extended the arms of love inward
to ourselves and outward to others, we held a balanced view of the power
of health, wellness and positive interconnectivity. We dared to dream but
remained humble in the process. We gave voice to the majesty of
ceremony and prayer through our songs and stories.
We have never forgotten that our life dream depended on our judicious
care of the land and each other. You see, we were more than the sum of
our physical parts, or our tribal names, we were water, land, trees,
animals, swimmers, flyers, crawlers and the supernatural. And, so we
accepted without limits or conditions our role as Mother Earth's caretakers
and we found joy and challenge in the journey. There was a deep
understanding of the equality of all life with each living and non-living
entity having a soul. The Tsimshian believe, for example, that the animals
and the standing people (trees), brought to the spiritual table their own
unique gifts which were equal in strength to their human cousins. There
are many stories from the Pacific Northwest Coast about the standing
people which were revered for their ability to provide protection, warmth
and shelter to humans."
NOTE: My book contains a chart to build a forty-stone Medicine Wheel,
along with both a Character and Environmental teaching. Forty Stones =
Eighty Teachings! The book is a valuable tool for Educators in helping to
incorporate the teachings into their mindful character education curricula.
It is also for all those interested folks wanting to know more about the
rich knowledge of First Nations people.
VOICE@SHANNONTHUNDERBIRD.COM

MEDICINE WHEEL AND SPIRITUALISM

"While American Indians have a grand past, the impact of their culture on
the world has been slight. The time for the way Indians live is gone and
it's doubly sad because they refuse to accept it. They hang onto remnants
of their religion and superstition that may have been useful to savages
500 years ago but which are meaningless in 1992.
Sixty Minutes TV Show pundit, the late Andy Rooney in one of his
tiresome, irrelevant televised diatribes. 1992).
Despite irresponsible views by public figures such as the late Mr. Rooney,
my Ancestors possessed an enlightened consciousness that rested in the
spiritual power contained in the highest and best of each of them.

"Spiritualism is the highest form of political and social consciousness.

Native people are among the last surviving teachers of this kind of
enlightened experience." (Haudenosaunne address to the western world,
Geneva, 1977).
It is important to use spiritualism and the medicine wheel wisely and well
in the 21st century - which is a time of b ridging ancient wisdom into the
creative tapestry of contemporary times. In other words, spirituality is not
a religion. As a matter of fact, there is no word for the word religion in
First Nations tongues because it creates an unnecessary separation
between humans and Mother Earth, whose spiritual essence resonates
through her natural warmth, sound and visual sensations that heals souls
and raises spirits. Our relationship with her provides for us a holistic road
to peace and this goes well beyond any human-designed religion that
often seeks to control and manipulate.
On the Pacific Northwest Coast where I am from, it started with Adaax
(Stories or True Telling), when during Yaawk (Feast Season) elaborate oral
narratives and dance dramas depicted our cultural history and knowledge.
In a pan-Native sense, our Ancestors closely studied the natural world,
becoming familiar with animal behaviour, plant medicine, darkness and
light, the changing tides, and all other forms of nature. We treated each
living being as a sacred and equal member of the living world; hence all
living beings were referred to as People, given human attributes, souls
and spiritual responsibilities. It was inconceivable for the tribes to view
themselves as separate or above the natural and supernatural worlds; it
was this vast and profound knowledge that sustain us, and we flourished
for thousands and thousands of years.

MEDICINE WHEEL AND SYMBOLS

Most cultures throughout history have used symbols as stepping stones to
"the memories of the soul". They were thought to be the key to unlocking
the doors of higher understanding or oneness with the universe. The
Elders emphasized the importance of looking at symbols and their
coinciding meanings in order to link the past to the present and on into
the future. All across Turtle Island, the truth of our existence was and is
expressed in the knowledge that accompanies our sacred artifacts such as
feathers, drums, shakers, pipes, sweatlodges, totems, dances, songs,
ceremonies which are all encompassed by the profound-ness of the
Medicine Wheel teachings.
MEDICINE WHEEL - A UNIVERSAL SYMBOL

The teachings mirror your life; it sometimes requires courage to look and
really see what is being reflected back to you because some experiences
are painful, while others joyful and reflective. However, it is ultimately
facing it all that makes you a stronger and better person.
My Ancestors were encouraged to think and walk in a positive ways. "As
you think so it is." In other words, what we believe about ourselves is
reflected in our earth walks. Greet every day with sacred honour songs
and respectful prayers because life is a fleeting thing. The knowledge
forms the basis of what it is to be human. After all, we are the weakest in
all creation and therefore, as the worlds takers, we must be cognizant of
what we take, how much we take and why we take it, then being grateful
for the bounty through song, sacrifice, and ceremony. An Elder once told
me that the grains of sand on a beach will never equal the number of
teachings contained within the mysteries of the Medicine Wheel.
The Medicine Wheel increases self-esteem and just simply makes you feel
good about yourself; it grounds you in the truth of who you are as
someone who matters.
WALKNG THE MEDICINE WHEEL
The Medicine Wheel assists in helping to seek: strong, healthy bodies
(East); strong inner spirits (South), inner peace (West), healthy minds
(North). The term "Medicine" as it is used by First Nations people does not
refer to drugs or herbal remedies. It is used within the context of inner
spiritual energy and healing or an enlightened experience.
The central essence of the medicine wheel is that each of you must make
your own choices. More often than not, however, these choices are
influenced by other individuals (families, co-workers, friends, social and
political environments). Not of all your experiences are good ones, there is
a lot of hate, terror, jealousy, fractured families and societies in a very
unsettled world which has resulted in an increase in various kinds of
cancers. Sometimes you are not successful in working around the pain and
you become caught up in a jungle of tangled emotions, followed by not
right action. It is difficult to walk the earth walk with care always looking
to your future in healing, positive and understanding ways, when it is so
easy to just give up. But, then, this is the challenge isnt it? To learn from
those experiences that have not elevated your life, (even though it can be
a scary process!) keep moving forward in a manner that pleases your
Ancestors. Remember: time is relative to the process of building your life
and is no one else's business unless you choose to share.
To emphasize, there is no right or wrong way to walk the wheel or live
your life, how we do it is our choice, and how we do it should not be

judged by anyone else. This is where Rupert Ross' Five Native Ethics come
in, which is a whole other teaching. Suffice it to say, that the Ethic of NonInterference, teaches it is not my place to judge how you choose to live
your life. It is your place to be there in friendship, love, balance, support
and harmony when needed and even then your personal opinions remain
your own. After all, it was never the intent that the world would be borne
out of mistakes. Each person is created as a "perfect soul" which reflects
the central essences of the medicine wheel. I know, it is hard to accept
perfect-ness when you are feeling decidedly imperfect on any given day.
However, you are where are supposed to be at this point in time, and you
are still perfect!
Life is an ongoing journey of personal redemption and evolution. If you
wish to become a self fulfilling prophecy, it is best to think and walk in a
positive way, for if you are angry, remorseful, and bitter, then your earth
walk will reflect that anger. In ancestral times, Indigenous People greeted
every sacred day with honour songs and prayers because physical life was
a fleeting thing. There were songs to greet the morning Sun, songs to put
Grandfather Sun to bed, Songs for Guardian Spirits, Prayers for Mother
Earth.
Everyday day should be a good day with good thoughts, good feelings and
prayer because being called to your day of quiet could be at any time. As
one of my teachers once said, "If someone says to me, 'I'm not spiritual',
I'll say, you breathe, dont you? If you breathe you are spiritual for
Spirituality is breath and breath is hope." As the beginning of the Great
Spirit Prayer says, "Oh Great Spirit whose breath gives life to all the
world, hear me I need your strength and wisdom."
The Old People say that you are never the same person coming out of a
circle as when you went in because so many new connections have been
made. All things that live within the Sacred Hoop are equal and protected.
It is a place where you come together in safety, trust and sanctity to share
stories and feelings and help each other heal through both communal and
individual laughter and tears. Eventually you will return to your starting
place older and hopefully a little wiser to begin the process of walking the
Wheel again, this time with new understanding, insight and inner
strength.
THE GREAT CIRCLE
The Circle lies at the centre of First Nations knowledge; it is simple logic,
actually, as everything in the Universe is round. Father Sky is a great blue
bowl, the Planets and Starts are round. Mother Earth and all that live upon
her are round, i.e. the plant world with its four circular parts, roots,

stems, leaves and fruit. Air swirls and water bubbles in circles. The human
body is circular. In other words, the circle is integral to an understanding
of the sacred and equal connections of all living beings. There is no
beginning and no end in the cycle of life; it is an endless, respectful
continuity from the past, to the present, to the future and to the plenitude
of life. Mother Earth is often referred to as a Medicine Wheel, Copper
Shield or Sacred Hoop because of her circular nature.
Always remember that very sacred teaching as regards etiquette when in
circle - "What goes on in a circle, stays in a circle!" The safety and
confidence with which people speak their truth is sacred and must never
be spoken of outside the circle. Only those who were in the circle have the
privilege of hearing that truth. It is not a debating society, therefore
speak your truth from the first person and do not argue with another
person's opinions or beliefs.
The circle is as sacred to Native people as the confessional is to Catholics.
In other words, "ain't nobody's business but the members of the circle and
the Ancestors!"

THE SEVEN DIRECTIONS

FEMALE & MALE ORIGINAL ELDERS BRING TEACHINGS TO YOU FROM
BEYOND THE WHITE VEIL

EAST (Element: Air) Male Elder Speaks: "Ay-ee, this is where all Physical
life begins, where Grandfather Sun begins his leisurely walk across the
breast of Mother Earth's mate, Father Sky amidst the clouds borne by Air.
Eagle flies in the East to assist Great Mystery in bringing messages to me.
East is MALE, and Men sit in this direction where stamina, logic, strength,
physical protection thrive; where Warriors for peaceful purposes emerge
in the fullness of their leadership skills. It is the place where thoughtful
decisions and selfless acts are made for the greater good of all. It is a time
of action and positive accomplishment. I awaken to Spring which starts a
new cycle of life and a new beginning. I scatter Tobacco upon the sacred
earth give thanks for my health, for family, friends, and peaceful relations.
It is also the direction of the beautiful Yellow People (Asian) for they
originated in the eastern direction. The origination of humans is logical
geography."

SOUTH (Element: Earth) Female Elder Speaks: "Ay-ee

this is where all life is reborn and infused with new and
positive energy for health, wellness and living in a good
way. Great Mystery planted a sacred tree - which
represented the 'Givers': Four Elements, Animals, Plants,
Trees and their sharing/caring ways. They give themselves to me as food,
medicine, shelter and clothing. I let my spirit soar on the breath of warm
winds and azure waters. The South is FEMALE YOUTH sit here for they
represent new life and the wonder of learning new things as they look
toward their endless horizons. I glory in the Summer for it takes me into
the magic of growing things. This is the place of the Healer and the
Spiritual realm within me. I give thanks everyday for the confidence I feel
within myself." I light Sage and breathe in the scent and remember always
that I am Well, I will be Better, I am here. It is also the direction of the
Proud Black People for they originated in the Southern direction. The
origination of
humans is logical geography"

WEST (Element:
Fire) Female Elder Speaks: "Ay-yee I speak
for the Fire and
the Sacred rocks (Grandfathers). I stand
here for all humanity. I carry the history, songs and teachings of the
everlasting great circle of life; In my sweatlodge I pour life-giving, lifesustaining water onto the grandfathers; spiritual, emotional, mental and
physical life regenerate through prayers that follow me through the mists
of endless time. The West is FEMALE, the Emotional Realm. Women sit in
the West., By balancing my emotions, I am able to stand solidly in the
truth of who I am without embellishment. Keeping my emotions level
helps me to stay calm, remain in the moment where I can be nonjudgemental towards myself and others. The West is also the direction of
creativity, the joy of spontaneity and artistic expression. Hear the
teachings from the Ancestors. West is the direction of the Visionary, I
acknowledge the power of my visions/dreams, prayers and I am humble in
the knowledge and application of them. I revel in the Autumn months for
the falling leaves take me to a place of quiet reflection. I light Sweetgrass
and breathe in its gentle, sweet scent and feel a sense of well-being. The
West is also the direction of the Noble Red People (First Nations People)
for they originated in the Western direction. The origination of humans is
logical geography"

NORTH (Element: Water) Male Elder Speaks: "Ay-yee, through

the Wisdom of the Element of Water, I hear Great Mystery. The
North is the direction of the wisdom and strength of the "Mindful
Mind". This is the direction of the Teacher in all of us. I am wise
in dispensing what I know to be true. Elders (Wise Ones) sit in the North
for they represent the full circle of life and all the wisdom and experiences
they acquired during their long journey. I listen to them, for their
knowledge lives on and sings with the Ancestors, their stories echo on the
waves of the water and out of their dreamtimes. Listen to the songs of
white bears and know that the wisdom of the ages courses through them,
they need the north and the cold just as I need it so I can rest and
revitalize. The season of Winter is upon me and finishes the thirteen fullmoon cycle. I reflect on all that I have learned and experienced during this
time. I light Cedar, or drink Cedar Tea or have a Cedar Bath and float in the
strong healing water of my own reflections. It is also the direction of the
Memorable White People for they originated in the Northern direction.
Remember, the origination of humans is
logical
geography.
LIFE

ABOVE THE EARTH:

Father
Mother

Sky the protector of the Universe and

Earth's Mate. The healing warmth of
Grandfather Sun, the regulation of the
tides and women's cycles with Grandmother Moon, Star Nation, the
keepers of the wisdom of the ages.
LIFE BELOW THE EARTH:
Provides balance, cohesion, connections and rootedness with Mother
Earth. I stand proud and secure in who I am. I give thanks to the four
great winds that first found their origins in the lower world.
ON THE EARTH:
I honour myself and all life, for it is the mainstay of my personal journey. It
is my essential INNER self which is ever-changing and transforming, that
moves me beyond time and beyond seasons. I am not afraid and I welcome
the changes and challenges for help forge who I am as a strong, sensible,
intelligent human being.
Following the directions in a sacred way commits me to not only talking
the talk, but more importantly, walking the walk. I move along my healing
path embracing the unlimited medicine wheel teachings and resources

available to me. Connections to culture, personal and collective vitality,

personal identity, spiritual strength, all of which become my everyday
thankful acknowledgements.
This is what Indigenous Renewal Ceremonies and Teachings are all about,
this is why legitimate Traditional Teachers and Elders are needed and who
have respectful, sacred connections to each other and to all things in the
natural world.
FOUR MAJOR ARCHETYPES
WARRIOR (EAST) - STAMINA, LEADERSHIP You come into your leadership
skills by staying in your power, by extending honour and respect. You do
this by showing up and being responsible and accountable. In other words,
do not hide or hold back, but, respect limits and boundaries. Do not, in
other words, interfere and/or insinuate yourself into someone else's world
without being invited. Always demonstrate the right use of power. Listen
to the messages from Father Sky and the four great winds. Empower
yourself by using a rattle, dancing, meditating while standing, connecting
to nature and finding your power animals. Watch out for the shadow
aspects of leadership: rthoughtless rebellion, 'power-over' mentality,
riding the coattails of powerful people. Remember, stand in the sweet
territory of being present, using 'right action', wise communication, and
responsible position.
HEALER (SOUTH), REBIRTH Pay attention to the heart and its meaning.
Attend to the condition and well-being of the four-chambered heart (full,
open, clear, strong); when you extend acknowledgement and the arms of
love to yourself and others, when you hold a balanced view of health you
can experience all kinds of love; Love between mates, between parent
and child, between friends and colleagues, between professional alliances,
love of self, Unconditional or spiritual love. Embrace the sweet territory of
Storytelling, Singing, Dancing, Silence. Cradle yourself in your own selflove and acknowledge your strengths, and the qualities you like about
yourself. Acknowledge the contributions you are making and that you
have made. Acknowledge the love you have given and received and the
love you are currently giving and receiving. When you recognize yourself
as a person of worth, you can do the same for others. Avoid the following
addictions: living too intensely (lighten up, in other words), seeking
perfection (this activity impedes the soul's progress), concentrating on
what is not working instead of what is working, you simply don't have to
know everything, remember there is a fine line between self-love, selfabsorption and self-indulgence!

VISIONARY (WEST) - INTEGRITY Tell the truth without blame or judgment.

Honour the power of prayer and live humbly. When you give voice to what
you see internally and externally and when you bring forward your
creative spirit and life dream you bring with you intuition, perception,
insight and vision. Stand in the sweet territory of dynamism, magnetism,
integration and strength/vigor. Meditate either standing, lying down,
sitting up or walking. Align your right words with right action, Honour
yourself in equal proportion to others. Avoid the following addictions: Free
yourself from patterns of denial and self indulgence. Never say, "I'm just a
housewife, I'm just a postal clerk, I'm just a veterinarian. The word "Just"
does not exist within the context of the Visionary. Avoid, in other words,
self-abandonment, always seeking approval or love, trying to keep the
peace, looking for harmony at any cost.
TEACHER (NORTH) -WISDOM When you express the Teacher, you develop
your capacities for detachment in a good way. Honour your heritage,
become flexible and fluid, like the ocean. Demonstrate wisdom and its four
major components of clarity, rightness, objectivity and discernment. Find
your inspiration from your Ancestors, immediate family, friends,
inspirational and historical and contemporary public figures. Sit in the
sweet and peaceful territory of silence. Immutable laws include:
Whomever is present should be there; When it begins, it is the right time;
Whatever happens, it is the only thing that could have happened; When it
is over, it is over. Avoid the following fears: Loss of structure, loss of turf,
feeling out of control, feeling abandoned, looking always at a bleak future.
Turn to your Healer Self to correct these things.

FOUR DIRECTIONAL PRAYER MANTRAS

EAST Today I acknowledge that my body contains a fantastic genetic code
unique only to me. It is a vehicle of expression designed to transport and
enable me to function within the physical realm. I do not devalue myself,
therefore I will not devalue my body; it is the temple that house the
Mental, Spiritual and Emotional realms of my existence. I understand and
accept that learning and changing takes time and that personal leadership
and wisdom are ongoing quests. I may not be able to expect an overnight
miracle but I can expect a miracle over time.
SOUTH Today I acknowledge that I am connected to a spiritual power
greater than myself known as the Breath of the Invisible. It loves me and
created me in perfect balance with Noo Halidzoks (Mother Earth). I place
no boundaries on the love I give myself and others. I am not defined by
the opinions of the wider world because my self-worth comes from my

soul. Besides, "if I care about people say about me, I won't be who I am."
(Russell Means, AIM)
WEST Today I will acknowledge that changes in my life must begin with
me. I will speak from the depths of my wise self because to lock up my
heart locks up my emotions. I will listen to my dreams and visions and, if
necessary, create a new reality for myself. I will stop denying that
problems exist. Instead I will honour them for they have helped make me
who I am at this moment in time. To deny my difficulties is to deny who I
am. What I will do is dream new dreams, lift up my spirit and ultimately
my life.
NORTH Today I acknowledge that to change my life requires the twin
elements of honesty and wisdom. Honesty to understand when a
change(s) is necessary and good, Wisdom to change my patterns of
behaviour even if they fly in the face of what others think and believe
about me. I have a sacred right to live my life as I choose, and I reject any
roles imposed or assigned to me in dysfunctional situations. I will not
waste the gifts freely given by my Ancestors.

GREAT SPIRIT PRAYER

Oh Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the wind.
Whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me; I need your strength and
wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple
sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to
hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my
people.
Help me to remain calm and strong in the face of all that comes towards
me
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock
Help me seek pure thoughts and act with the intention of helping others

Help me find compassion without empathy overwhelming me.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brothers and sisters, but to
fight my greatest enemy - MYSELF
Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes
So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you
without shame.
....Wilwilaaysk, All My Relations
http://www.shannonthunderbird.com/medicine_wheel_teachings.htm

Using Medicine Wheel pedagogy

The following Medicine Wheel diagram (Figure 1) reviews the gifts of each
of the directions as informed by Cree Elder Michael Thrasher. In the east
the gift of vision is found, where one is able to see. In the south one
spends time in which to relate to the vision. In the west, one uses the gift
of reason to figure it out. In the north, one uses the gift of movement to
do or actualize the vision. According to Absolon,[5] in following the path of
Medicine Wheels the fourth direction involves creating a healing
movement towards change this is possible only when the other
components have been acknowledged.[6]

Moving into the doing phase of the north requires taking the knowledge
gained from all the directions and enacting that knowledge. This form of
praxis makes the balance achievable. Using Medicine Wheels as a tool for
analysis in healing and learning demands the continuous and ongoing
reflection of oneself in relation to others thus balance must be
maintained while embracing change. The teaching and healing process is
evolutionary and cyclical in nature, as is the continuum of medicine
wheels. It begins with a desire to understand and identify with the
balance, wholeness and interconnectedness expressed in the medicine
wheel.[7]
In order to create the movement required by the northern direction, one
must re-visit the other directions to achieve a 360-degree vision.[8] By
going to the east where one visions to transform that which is, one can
actively create a better life for oneself and others. Indigenous people can
envision how they can be active in the creation of oppositional analytical
and cultural space.[9] Visioning allows them to engage in the hopeful
utopian thinking necessary for radical transformation.[10] Once a guiding
vision is received or created, strategies can then be planned to help
actualize it. Each person then has the responsibility to do the work
required to fulfill the vision.[11]
Indigenous people are fighting to actualize their visions for change in the
education of their children. A revolutionized world will not come into
existence in a linear way, as the result of a single-minded drive, but in a
cyclic, circular way, working in all dimensions of a culture, moving from
one position to another, not in reaction but in interaction with other
forces.[12] Moving from linear models to the interconnectedness of the

circle can guide the development of pedagogy and vision for the future.
[13]

The transmission of Medicine Wheel teachings

Understanding Indigenous knowledge and worldview begins with Medicine
Wheel teachings previously discussed: the gifts of the directions (vision,
time, reason, movement), the actions of those gifts (see it, relate to it,
figure it out, do it), and the learning process (awareness, understanding,
knowledge, wisdom). Building from these understandings, Indigenous
knowledge embraced by Medicine Wheels can be defined as wholeness,
interrelationships, interconnections, and balance/respect. Wholeness
requires that we look in entireties; that the whole is greater than the sum
of its parts, yet the parts cannot be fully seen until the shape of the whole
can be seen. Interrelationship requires that we establish a personal
relationship with the whole with all that surrounds us. In addition, we
must establish a relationship with our whole being; this includes our
spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional aspects. Interconnections create
an environment which is mutually sustaining; where there is a
transcending of logic and linear thought to reveal synthesis and dynamic
interdependence. Balance and respect provide an order and structure to
the whole and all its relationships and interconnections, while providing
an appreciation for the awe of it all. (Figure 2)

http://w
ww.cea-ace.ca/education-canada/article/teaching-medicine-wheel
The Aboriginal Healing Movement
The years between 1950 and 1980 were some of the darkest years in living
memory for many Canadian Aboriginal communities, but they can also be
thought of as the darkest hour before the dawn. For there really has been
a dawn in recent years, a new awareness of spirituality, Native identity,
and healing in many Aboriginal communities across Canada.
The seeds of trust and awakening were always present, planted by wise
elders generations before in stories, songs, ceremonies, and sacred
teachings. Much of those old ways had gone underground because of
religious and legal persecution as well as political repression.
The 1960s were a period of political and cultural reawakening for many
peoples in both the United States and Canada. The birth of the Aboriginal
rights movement, through such organizations as AIM (the American Indian
Movement ) in the United States and the National Indian Brotherhood in
Canada, marked the visible and more public beginning of a new era in
modern Aboriginal healing.
In addition to the political empowerment process, three other powerful
streams have contributed to the emergence of what is clearly an
indigenous peoples healing movement.

They are :
1.
The revival of traditional spirituality.
2.
The introduction of personal growth and healing as a primary line of
action in community life through such
programs as Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA), and a whole host of strategies and programs for
addressing substance abuse, sexual abuse, violence, and the need for
personal growth.
3.
The health promotion and healthy communities movement.
Many communities have experienced the revival of old ceremonies,
practices and teachings such as smudging, the sweat lodge, the use of the
sacred pipe, fasting, vision quests, and ceremonies for naming, healing,
reconciliation, and personal or collective commitment. Some communities
seemed to have forgotten their own ceremonies and so whole generations
of younger men and women travelled to other communities and tribes
across the continent to find spiritual teachers who would help them
recover something of their own Aboriginal spiritual teachings and
practices. Sometimes, as the teachings and songs of another tribe were
introduced in a community, the elders would begin to share their own
heritage which they had hidden away in their hearts for so many years.
What is significant about all of this relative to the issue of addressing
social security reform is that the bringing back and re-legitimizing of
traditional spiritual and cultural teachings has already contributed a great
deal to community healing and development processes. Indeed, much of
the primary thinking about what healing is, how it can be promoted and
maintained, and how it is intimately contained in the whole hoop of life
encompassing individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities,
and nations-- many of these insights have come from indigenous people's
cultural foundations, and are now actually being borrowed and used by
dominant society health practitioners because they are so powerful and
effective.
The other primary stream which continues to contribute to the indigenous
people's healing movement (in addition to the political empowerment
process and the revival of indigenous spirituality and culture) is the
addictions and human potential movement. For example, Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA) has made a significant contribution. It is important to
note that many Aboriginal people have been helped through participation
in AA, and also many communities have been impacted and helped
because AA members stuck it out and persistently held meetings
(sometimes for years) even if only a few people ever came. It is also fair to
say that many communities took AA concepts and practices (such as the
twelve steps) and integrated them into healing approaches that were
better suited to community realities and conditions than non-Native,

urban approaches to running AA meetings. At the same time, the adult

children of alcoholics and codependency models were emerging out of AA,
and these approaches have also been a profound influence on the content
and process of the Aboriginal healing movement through the pioneering
work of people like Jane Middleton-Moss and Ann Wilson Schaef.
The human potential movement provided another sub-stream in the
healing process. This movement has its origins in gestalt therapy, holistic
health, eastern yoga, meditation and cultural development strategies, and
in the performing arts, (theatre, music, and dance applied to healing).
From this sub-stream came a strong focus on health and wellness rather
than sickness. The health promotion/determinants of health approach is
now recognized by dominant culture health professionals as a legitimate
strategy for addressing fundamental health issues. This departure from
the "medical model" has much in common with Aboriginal community
healing concepts and practices. The Aboriginal healing movement has
gained support and legitimization from the mainstream health promotion
field. The converse is also truth. The field of health promotion has also
been significantly enriched by exposure to Aboriginal models and
strategies.
In Canada, the Aboriginal healing movement was given a major boost by
the Health and Welfare Canada through the establishment in 1982 of the
National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP). The first
directors of this program made a tremendous contribution to the Canadian
Aboriginal healing movement simply by listening to indigenous community
voices, and supporting indigenous thinking in the building of solutions to
address the prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse. By the
early 1980's, alcohol and drug abuse had been recognized by Aboriginal
leaders and health professionals as the number one health problem facing
Aboriginal people in Canada.
As can be seen from this thumbnail sketch outlining the emergence of the
Aboriginal health movement, no one person, group, or community can be
credited with starting the movement. Spiritual leaders, elders, and very
many others had been praying for some way to help their communities out
of the black hole of despair that was engulfing them and killing many of
their people. Countless community heroes and heroines have sacrificed
years of their lives to bring it about and there were many outside helpers
who arose in the form of role model communities or helping organizations
that continue to contribute to the process. The following section lists
some of the types of resources and strengths which Aboriginal
communities in Canada have developed through this courageous and
dedicated search for processes which would help return their people to
the health and balance they once enjoyed.

Assets and Resources for Healing

It is important not to underestimate the tremendous resources and
strengths which Aboriginal communities already have as they tackle the
challenge of rebuilding strong, healthy nations. As mentioned earlier, they
have a great deal to teach Canadian society in general when it comes to
understanding the central role of healing in any human and community
development processes. What follows is a brief summary of the strengths
which can be built on for the task of creating a social security system
which leads to well-being and prosperity.

Elders and other spiritual/cultural leaders who continue to share

traditional knowledge and personal insight about healing and human
and community development, to serve as counsellors and healers for
individuals, and to lead ceremonies and other community renewal
processes. Many Aboriginal communities are also beginning to
realize that these valuable resource people need support to do their
own healing work so that they can perform their roles in the most
effective way possible.

A network of substance abuse treatment centres (both local and

regional) has been developed over the past several decades. These
centres have gained an incredible wealth of experience and have
helped thousands of individuals and families. The National
Association of Native Treatment Centre Directors has also done
pioneering work in developing healing models, conducting related
research, and sharing culturally appropriate training and learning
resources. Of course, many more treatment centres are needed and
they need to be given the resources they need to be able to deal
with a wide range of healing issues.

A core group of front-line community workers (e.g. NNADAP workers

and CHRs) have received training and have gained a great deal of
experience in working with individuals and families around healing
issues. This core group is not large enough and is often undertrained and under-resourced, yet it does represent a significant
existing resource.

Aboriginal communities have developed creative training processes

and models for

personal, family and community healing which they have been

sharing with each other through workshops and conferences and
through the development of more formalized training such as that
offered by the Nechi Centre in Alberta.

Some Aboriginal communities have developed visionary integrated

social development plans which bring political will and financial
resources to healing and community development processes over a
sustained period. Many of these communities are also building
wellness or healing centres of various kinds.

A growing body of print and audio-visual resource material about

healing issues has been developed over the past two decades, much
of it made possible in some way through NNADAP or other programs
of Health Canada.

Some Aboriginal communities have made considerable headway in

gaining control over their health program through the health
transfer process. Their experience will help make it possible for
others communities to use this step as effectively as possible.

The report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People has

documented the issues related to human and community
development in a comprehensive and balanced way which can serve
as a foundation for many years to come. In addition, the research
and development work which the Assembly of First Nations is
sponsoring on social security reform (and of which this document is
only one part) has the potential to help shape the future of
Aboriginal community healing and development.

A number of communities across Canada have developed role model

innovations in the healing work and are serving as an inspiration to
many others. We have chosen to briefly highlight two cases studies
in Part IV of this document.

http://www.4worlds.org/4w/ssr/PARTII.htm