Medicine Wheel Teachings This power point presentation provides an overview teaching of the Medicine Wheel using a timeline of events format. Prepared and presented by Sharon Meyer 2014

Sacredness of the Circle Representation of Mother Earth Flows in one direction Inter-connectedness The evolution of Mother Earth around the sun The circle is very sacred for traditional First Nation people. All that is done is through ceremonies, celebrations, and gatherings within a circle format. This is science!

North West East South 4 is a scared number for First Nation people Science 4 Directions North West East South The Creator provided 4 directions on Mother Earth This is science!

Winter Fall Spring Summer 4 Seasons The Creator provided 4 seasons on Mother Earth This is science!

The Creator rooted the plant people on Mother Earth First Nation Spirituality

Grasses Trees Trees Flowers Berries Science The Plant World The plants are divided into 4 groups This is science!

The Creator saw that Mother Earth was overcome with plants and needed to create something to balance the overgrowth of plant life so animals were created.

Legged Ones Animals Swimmers Crawlers Fish Insects Winged Ones Birds Science Animal World Legged Ones Animals Swimmers Fish Crawlers Insects Winged Ones Birds The animals are divided into 4 groups like the plants This is science!

Trickster Cree – Wisakechuk Inuit – Amaguq Lakota – Iktomi Ojibwe - Nanabozho West Coast – Raven Blackfoot – Naapi Anishinabe - Witiko After the plants and animals were on Mother Earth the Trickster was sent to prepare for the coming of humans. The trickster has different names for cultural areas but purpose is the same

Turtle Island was inhibited by First Nation families from many culture groups

Physical Spiritual Emotional Mental 4 parts of the body Creator created the human with four parts to their being. The plants and animals were instructed to help the human to keep in balance.

Sage Tobacco Kinikinik Cedar 4 Sacred Plants Sweetgrass The 4 sacred plants were provided by the Creator to help keep the human in balance and connected to Mother Earth

Trickster lived with the plants and animals to prepare for the coming of the humans. The First Nation people(s) were taught through oral teachings that the plant and animal Stories were taught to them by the Trickster. The oral stories provide the direction of how To live in harmony with the plant and animal world in co-existence and co-habitation of Mother Earth.

The First Nation People were gifted the drum to remind them of where they come from and to always remember that the animals and plants were here first. The drum is made from two materials: the plants (wood) = drum frame and the animals (hide) = covering of the drum. The heartbeat is the rhythm of the drum to honor the beat of life = heartbeat. The drum is considered female and it is to teach the men to honor the giver of life = women.

It was predicted that other brothers would join our Turtle Island. First Nations invited early brothers to share our Turtle Island. (need circle ½ white and ½ red)

Asian Europeans African First Nations Our medicine wheel changed to add all of our nations Living on our Turtle Island Europeans African Asian As settlers grew from early farms to town Settlements they planned a railroad. Slaves were brought in as laborers. New brothers joined life on Turtle Island. First Nations

Europeans Rainbow People Asians Africans First Nations Now a new nation has joined us – the Rainbow people. This is part of the Seventh generation – the healing generation. Our leaders with new relationships and understanding.

Let’s see how teachers are using the medicine wheel in the classroom. Need to visit Medicine Wheel Teacher Examples Power Point For too long, First Nation teachings were not invited to have a place in European education. The time has come where we can see how balanced an educational delivery can be with the understanding of the medicine wheel. It is a way to teach global thinking!

Kinanaskomitin – Thank you to one person E’Kosi – I am done Kinanaskomitin – Thank you to one person Kinanaskomitinawaw – Thank you to more than one person Sharon Meyer North East School Division First Nation and Metis Instruction Consultant (306) 401 - 7848