Indigenous terms

• First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people are the original descendants of Canada.
• Métis has First Nation and European roots
• Inuit are Indigenous it the Arctic
• Michif: language of the Métis
• the four colours of the medicine wheel are: red, yellow, black and white
• the medicine wheel starts in the east and go clockwise
• the medicine wheel means balance
• in the East:

  colour: Yellow

  medicine: tobacco

  animal: Eagle

  season: Spring

  time of day: Morning

  stage of life: Baby

  represents: Mind
• in the South:

  colour: Red

  medicine: Cedar

  animal: Deer

  season: Summer

  time of day: Noon

  stage of life: Adolescent

  represents: Body
• in the West:

  colour: Black

  medicine: Sage

  animal: Buffalo

  season: Autumn

  time of day: Evening

  stage of life: Adult

  represents: Emotion
• in the North:

  colour: White

  medicine: Sweet Grass

  animal: Bear

  season: Winter

  time of day: Evening? / night /

  stage of life: Elder

  represents: Spirit
• Blue represents Father Sky in the upper realm
• Green represents Mother Earth below
• Purple represents the self, that the spirit that journeys in this physical world
• we each have a fire that we carry that we need to nurture

  (centre)
• Tobacco: to give thanks
• Cedar: for healing
• Sage: clearing minds and hearts
• Sweet Grass: the three strands represent mind body and soul

  (braided together)
• Seven Stages of Life:

  the Good Life

  the Fast Life

  the Wandering life

  the stages of Truth

  Planing

  Doing

  the Elder Life
• Good life: the early stage of a life where unconditional love and discipline is important (first 7

  years)
• Fast life: training and growing up
• Wondering life: go from place to place learning
• Truth stage: knowing yourself
• Planning: what are you going to do
• Doing: doing what your plan is
• Elder: gathering and giving wisdom
• Gifts of teaching:

  honesty

  humility

  courage

  wisdom

  respect

  generosity (truth)

  love