The Native Medicine Wheel

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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 First color in the wheel is Red it represents Fire, passion and time of fertility, It is also known as the “South”. The Animals that red represent Pride, strength, and courage are known to be the Eagle which has strong wings, The Lion which has the strength and the courage when it roars and finally the Wolf which is a member of a pride that they are so proud to be a part of.

The Second color on the wheel is Yellow it is known as the “East” it represents Air and Flight. The Animal that represents the East is animals of wings and flight which includes the hummingbird, The owl, and the Hawk. The hawk seems to represent a lot of different things same with the eagle when it comes to native history.

The Third color on the wheel is Blue/ Black in other words “West” blue represents water and emotions when in the “west” this is where most people learn responsibility to everyone and everything. It is time to prepare and get ready for winter they gather everything and everyone to prepare for what is coming at this time. Black symbolizes changed from this life. The Animals that represent the west is the Beaver which shows us how team work is done and how helping other gather materials for living, the other animal is a snake which re...

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...ggest most elaborate wheel known in history, it is still a part of Native Americans ritual life. Annually about 60 different tribes visit this wheel and there are over 180 sacred ceremonies help at this wheel as well. So this just goes to show that this is still being used in native communities.

I remember when I was in grade six the native chief of the reserve back home in Parry Sound came to our public school and did a big speech on the native medicine wheel. He showed us pictures and diagrams of it and taught us about all the different beliefs and meanings of the colours. They still teach this stuff to children in public school today which is really great considering how long it has actually been around.

This assignment has taught me a lot about the Native Medicine Wheel, I did not know how many different means it could have but to everyone it is different.

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