THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF THE
TRADITIONAL MEDICINE WHEEL
Direction: North
Colour: White/Green
Aspect: Spiritual
Animal: Buffalo
Medicine: Sweet Grass
Represents: kindness
Losses: Religion/ceremonies
Hopelessness/despair
Healing: Re-connection to
Creator & Creation;
Religious ceremonies and
traditions
Direction: South
Colour: Red/Black
Aspect: Emotional
Animal: Hawk
Medicine: Cedar
Represents: Honesty;
positive energy
Losses: Identity; stress;
anxiety; depression
Healing: Culturally competent
counseling/treatments
Direction: East
Colour: Yellow
Aspect: Mental
Animal: Eagle
Medicine: Tobacco
Represents: Strength; courage;
communication
Losses: Elder Teachings;
languages
Healing: Elder teachings;
supportive education
The “medicine wheel”
is known as a symbol of
wholeness and is used in a
variety of ways to address
issues of health and wellness
of Indigenous people. All
aspects of the medicine
wheel are considered sacred
and equal and are
interrelated. Focus is on
achieving balance and
wholeness.
Darlene Harrison
GiiC Resource Consultant
[email protected]
Direction: West
Colour: Black/Blue
Aspect: Physical
Animal: Bear
Medicine: Sage
Represents: Sharing; drives
away negative feelings
Losses: obesity; disease
Healing: Diet; exercise; return to
hunter/gatherer
Lise Arseneau
Research Assistant
[email protected]