The Medicine Wheel
The Medicine Wheel ( known as a ‘Sacred Hoop’) has been used by Native American Tribes for healing and health. It can be known as a “wheel of protection”. The medicine wheel is an artifact that to many people would look similar to a dream catcher, but has a totally different meaning. The Mi’kmaq people have certain symbols that represent their belief system and the way they look at the world. The wheel represents their thinking and symbolizes life experiences and their life journey which is why it is so important to the native peoples. It represents interconnectedness of all living things which means how they impact each other. The wheel is known to be a model that is to be used to view self, society or anything that
…show more content…
one could think of looking into. You can treat the medicine wheel almost as a mirror that reflects back on your humanity, many cultures have used the wheel as sacred ways of organizing and passing on understanding and knowledge about existence. The wheel has several parts to it, each with a different meaning, East, South, West, and North. The East is seen as a direction of beginnings, the wheel starts in the east direction where the sun rises, and travels clockwise. The East represents springtime also known as the time of planting and birth. Each direction has a spirit animal, East is the Eagle,the eagle is a sacred symbol in the aboriginal communities because it is the only living creature that naturally flies closest to the sun. The Native people believe that the eagle is a messenger for the creator. The eagle provides clarity, perception, knowledge, and understanding. The color for east on the medicine wheel is White. white is for one of the four races of man, the white skinned peoples. Each direction has a colour, a guide (a spirit animal), a medicine, an element, a season and a life stage. The element for East is water , because water feeds plants , feeds animals, and all living things which is a life giving force, water is very positive for the Mi’kmaq. Sweetgrass is the medicine for the east, sweetgrass is used in smudging and is teaches us to be kind and gentle. In smudging when you burn sweetgrass, the smoke from the sweet grass is used to get rid of negative thoughts and feelings. sweet grass is one of the most important Native American ceremonial plants, it symbolizes healing, peace, and spirituality. To the Mi’kmaq, the south is where you’re in your adult woman stage. One of the most important factors in the Native American Indian culture is their reference to the spirit world. The spirit animal for the south direction is the thunderbird. This spirit bird sits atop many cedar wood totem poles. The thunderbird symbolizes creation and destruction and divides the heavens from the earth. The thunderbird also symbolizes the nature and the sun, people believed that when the bird woke in the morning, it would bring the rising sun, and when the bird closed its eyes at night the sun would set. The colour for south on the medicine wheel is yellow for one of the four races of man, “the yellow skinned peoples”. The element for south is fire. Fire represents warmth and light, and usually means kindness. The element for south is fire because it means warmth and the season for south is summer and that is the warmest season. The fire is known to be very sacred to the indigenous. Sage is the medicine for the direction south on the medicine wheel. Sage is a wild plant found in nova scotia and western provinces. Sage drives out bad spirits and feelings, and is also used during a smudge. Sage smoke is attracted to spirits of good intent, but is repellent to spirits that intend harm. Sage is good for smudging and purifying people. The west is associated with things that are ending, it represents fall which kind of makes sense because fall is the end of the warm seasons, then its winter.
The west is where the emotional part of things like sadness and hurt is represented. The west’s spirit animal is a Black Bear. the black bear represents strength and confidence. The spirit of the bear is a strong source of support in times of difficulty, it provides courage and a stable foundation to face challenges. The bear can also be a symbol of understanding and freedom and can symbolize healing abilities. The bear is one of the animals that knows how to heal itself by using plants. The color for west on the medicine wheel is red, white is for the one of the four races of man. “The red skinned peoples”
The element for west is earth, because earth is a life giving force and the earth and nature is important to the Mi’kmaq. They believe that all things like plants, animals, people and mother earth itself all have the creators spirit in them and must be respected. Cedar is the medicine for the west, cedar is used for smudging in traditional ceremonie, it is used for cleansing and energizing. Cedar is known to be a sacred medicine of the west
…show more content…
direction. The North represents cool and refreshing northerly breeze, also can represent winter. Winter represents the dawning place of true wisdom. The spirit animal for north is the White bear. When you enter the Northern territory, you enter the land of the polar bear, with his camouflage of white, he symbolizes surrender. The spiritual meaning of the polar bear is strength and acceptance. The color for north on the medicine wheel is black. Black represents one of the four races of man. “Black skinned peoples”. The element for north is air because air can represent the heavens, where the creator spirits lived. Traditionally, air relates to the mind. Everything needs air to survive, air gives us breath which is why it is so important to the peoples. The medicine for the north direction is fungus. Fungus is the traditional medicine for the north direction, it can be used by women to protect men from the draining effects of moon time. A favourite is called deer-foot-fungus, that grows on birch trees. Fungus was popular but has been replaced by tobacco. The reason that the four different colors are used, is because they represent the four different races of man, and when they are together ( the centre of the wheel) it has been told that the world will be in balance, with peace, love, harmony, and healing.
Many different cultures have medicine wheels, and some have the same meanings and some have have very different meanings, you can have a medicine wheel with you own meanings. The colors of the medicine wheel also represent the four qualities of a balanced life, the spiritual life (the soul) is represented by the color red, the emotional life (the heart) is represented by the color yellow, the physical life (the body) is represented by the color black, and the intellect (the mind) is represented by the color white. The medicine wheel is a crucial element of First Nations culture. It is a powerful symbol of the aboriginal peoples spirituality. The wheel is a key to understanding the universe, and it is a guide in which an individual can “reach
wholeness"
Further, prayer and medicine interplay to paint a classical image of the Native’s creed, yet, for many obsolete or preposterous existences of the shaman. To re-install beliefs present in the world for thousands of years, but have been disappearing, writers such as Neidhardt introduce the element of the
The Royal Alberta Museum holds a sacred object of the First Nations groups of Alberta and Saskatchewan, the Manitou Stone. This sacred object has a vast history to the Aboriginals but also has much controversy that surrounds it. Hundreds of years ago the object was removed from its original spot and was moved back and forth across the Canada, eventually ending up in Edmonton at the Royal Alberta Museum. This sacred object was said to have many powers for the First Nations people and when it was taken it brought great hardship to the First Nations groups that believed in the power of the Manitou Stone. This is only the beginning of the issues that surround this sacred object. Many different Aboriginal groups claim to own the piece but no decision has been made as to where the object should be placed. With the Manitou Stone now in the Royal Alberta Museum issues arise about the proper housing of the item and whether or not it should be retained in a museum or if it should be on First Nations land. Where the Manitou Stone is placed brings many complications and struggles for the Aboriginal people that claim ownership of the sacred object. When researching this object I was initially unaware of the significance that a museum could have to groups of people and the struggles that this could bring to these groups. This paper will explore the significance of the stone, the various viewpoints on why the object was moved originally from Iron Creek, who claims ownership to the object, and whether or not a museum is the proper place for sacred objects like the Manitou Stone to be kept.
A symbolic object is something that represents an abstract idea or a bigger picture. Chris Eyre’s film, Smoke Signals, uses many symbolic objects to thoroughly communicate the issues Native Americans face while living in America, “the freest country on Earth.” Specifically, the scene with the song “John Wayne’s Teeth” is used to symbolize indigenous peoples’ ongoing battle for equality and self-identity in a world of neocolonialism.
the native cultural practices of the use of the pipe. Herb than was able to find true
Plants were believed to have magic powers and were used symbolically in healing practices. Seeds, twigs, and leaves coloured black, white and red were believed to possess healing properties. Traditional healers act as an intermediate between the physical and spiritual world to enable healing and restore balance. Drumming, dancing, and chanting are used to arouse spirits in healing
By analyzing the Kawaiisu, a Great Basin Native tribe, I want to explore cultural wonders and observe their society as I compare an aspect of interest with that of another culture in the world, the Chuuk. Comparing different societies of the world will allow me to successfully learn about the Kawaiisu people in a more detailed and open minded manner. Populations all around the world throughout time have had different views and traditions of beliefs. Through this project, I hope to unravel and gain an understanding of different perspectives and ways of life.
This paper addresses the results of interviews, observations, and research of life in the Ottawa tribe, how they see themselves and others in society and in the tribe. I mainly focused on The Little River Band of Ottawa Indian tribe. I researched their languages, pecking order, and interviewed to discover the rituals, and traditions that they believe in. In this essay I revealed how they see themselves in society. How they see other people, how they see each other, what their values were, what a typical day was etc. I initially suspected that I would have got different responses from these questions but in reality the results in the questions were almost completely the same. I studied this topic because mostly all the people that are close to me are associated in the Ottawa tribe. I additionally love the Native American culture, I feel it is beautiful and has a free concept.
The Native Medicine Wheel is spiritual energy; it is a wheel of protection. There are four different colors on the wheel Red, Black, Yellow, and White. Each color represents something, air, water, fire, earth. Ancient stone structures of Medicine wheels can be found in southern Canada, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. The center of the medicine wheel represents the creator and the spokes represent symbolic signs that are different to each tribe whoever constructed that wheel knows the unique signs.
The medicine is a very important item to the Indigenous because it has been passed down through generations and helps heal them. Tobacco is one of the four most valuable sacred plants in the Aboriginal community because it is believed to a kind of pathway to the spirit world. “It is spread on the ground as an offering to the Earth or on the water as acknowledgment to its critical role in life and to ask for safe passage,” (Admin, Aug,02, 2012, para 2). They may even sometimes use it in a cigar instead of just throwing it onto the fire. The most important thing to the Indigenous is the medicine wheel which helps them use different medicines for different sicknesses or to help with their well-being. This changed my way of thinking because I opened myself up to learning more about the medicines and actually understanding what they are used for and how important they are rather than just knowing it heals them in some
The Hopi have a highly developed belief system which contains many gods and spirits. Ceremonies, rituals, dances, songs, and prayers are celebrated in year-round. The Hopi believed they were led to the arid southwestern region of America by their creator, because he knew they had the power to evoke rain with power and prayer. Consequently, the Hopi are connected to their land, its agricultural cycles and the constant quest for rainfall, in a religious way. The religious center of the community is the kiva, which is an underground room with a ladder protruding above the roof. The kiva is very important for several reasons. From the kiva, a connection is made with the center of the earth. Also, the kiva is symbolic for the emergence to this world. The room would represent the underworld and the ladder would represent the way to the upper world. In fact, a room is kept in the house to store ceremonial objects. A sacred ear of corn protects the room and symbolizes the ancestry of the family members. Kachinas are also a focal point of the religion. For a Hopi, they signify spirits of ancestors, dieties of the natural world, or intermediaries between man and gods. The Hopi believe that they are the earth's caretakers, and with the successful performance of their ceremonial cycle, the world will remain in balance, the gods will be happy and rain will come. Because they think of their crops as gifts, the Hopi Indians live in harmony with the environment.
Religious ceremonies, sorcery, and myths are all prevalent in traditional Hopi culture. These ceremonies are believed to produce rainfall, promote fertility, bring luck in hunting and warfare, or assist the sun in moving from winter to the summer (Brandt, 1954: 18). The Hopi also believe in the supernatural and in afterlife. They have sorcerers who are said to have two hearts, one derived from an animal, which gives them powers, and the other a human heart. Myths are reality to the Hopi; they are both spiritual and practical. (Brandt, 1954: 32)
New Perspectives on the West. The West-Sitting Bull. PBS, 2001. Web. 21. Retrieved November 12, 2011, from http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/s_z_sittingbull.htm.
In fact, Native American medicine men belief is firmly grounded in age-old traditions, legends and teachings. Healing and medical powers have existed since the very beginning of time according to Native American stories. Consequently they have handed down the tribe's antediluvian legends, which i...
According to Indigenous point of view, epistemology is created by three worlds such as physical, human and sacred (Foley, 2003). The physical world compresses with the land, the sky and the flora and the fauna which provide food and is the foundation of culture, spirit and identity of Indigenous tribes (Foley, 2003). Martin & Mirraboopa (2003) also supported the idea of Foley and he said that physical world play a vital role in Indigenous way of knowing. Furthermore, environment including mammals, birds, reptiles, insects or trees are part of being and the relatives of Indigenous people and they believe that they have responsibility to protect and conserve them (Martin & Mirraboopa, 2003). Martin & Mirraboopa (2003) also said that
Indigenous Knowledge (IK) can be broadly defined as the knowledge and skills that an indigenous (local) community accumulates over generations of living in a particular environment. IK is unique to given cultures, localities and societies and is acquired through daily experience. It is embedded in community practices, institutions, relationships and rituals. Because IK is based on, and is deeply embedded in local experience and historic reality, it is therefore unique to that specific culture; it also plays an important role in defining the identity of the community. Similarly, since IK has developed over the centuries of experimentation on how to adapt to local conditions. That is Indigenous ways of knowing informs their ways of being. Accordingly IK is integrated and driven from multiple sources; traditional teachings, empirical observations and revelations handed down generations. Under IK, language, gestures and cultural codes are in harmony. Similarly, language, symbols and family structure are interrelated. For example, First Nation had a