All tribes have a form of medicine wheel. There is no single answer as to its meaning. The Anishnaabek often referred to the medicine wheel as the CIRCLE OF LIFE symbolizing the natural cycles of birth, growth, death, and regeneration.
The FOUR CIRCLES are viewed in a clockwise direction. East will be to the viewer’s right, south on the bottom and west on the left. In native culture we start in the east and rotate to the south and west, arriving at the north circle on top.
Here are some of the interpretations of the medicine wheel:
4 Medicine Wheel COLORS
East – Zaawaa -Yellow
South – Miskwaa – Red
West – Mkade – Black
North – Waabishkaa – White
4 RACES OF MAN – The 4 Brothers
East – Niibiish aabooke ininwag – Yellow
South – Anishinaabek – Red
West – Mkade ininwag – Black
North – Zhaaganaashag – White
4 NATURES OF MAN
East – Physical
South – Emotional
West – Mental
North – Spiritual
4 HILLS (stages)OF MAN
East – Binoojiinhsag – Childhood
South – Shki niigi – Adolescence
West – Gitziimak – Adult
North – Gchi epiitzjiik – Elder
4 PHASES OF HEALTH
East – Physical
South – Social
West – Intellectual
North – Spiritual
4 GRANDFATHERS / GRANDMOTHERS
East – Waabinong – Beginning
South – Zhaawinong – Going Along
West – Epngishmok – Getting Settled
North – Giiwednong – Going Home
4 SEASONS
East – Mnookmi – Spring
South – Niibin – Summer
West – Dgwaagi – Autumn
North – Biiboon – Winter
Medicine Wheel 4 TIMES OF DAY
East – Sunrise
South – High Noon
West – Sunset
North – Night
4 BASIC ELEMENTS of the Medicine Wheel
East – Nbiish – Water
South – Noodin – Wind
West – Aki – Earth
North – Ishkode – Fire
4 DIRECTIONS of the Medicine Wheel
East – Waboon
South – Shawan
West – Ningabianong
North – Kewadin
4 SACRED PLANTS
East – Semaa – Tobacco – Prayer, renewal of life.
South – Giizhik – Cedar – Courage, cleansing, growth, express feelings.
West – Mmuskode-washk – Sage – Purifies, introspection, direction we go when we change worlds in death.
North – Wiingashk – Sweetgrass – Invites in good.
