"While American Indians have a grand past, the impact of their culture on the world has been slight. The time for the way Indians live is gone and it's doubly sad because they refuse to accept it. They hang onto remnants of their religion and superstition that may have been useful to savages 500 years ago but which are meaningless in 1992."

Sixty Minutes Television Show Pundit, the late Andy Rooney in one of his tiresome televised diatribes, 1992.

Despite some irresponsible views by public figures such as the late Mr. Rooney, my Ancestors possessed an enlightened consciousness that rested in the spiritual power contained in the highest and best of each of them.

"Spiritualism is the highest form of political and social consciosuness. Native people are among the last surviving teachers of this kinds of enlightened experience. It is important to use spiritualism wisely and well in the 21st century -- which will be a time of bridging ancient wisdom into the creative tapestry of contemporary times. "No one knows this better than Natives whose 'religion' is a deep connection between nature and spirit." (Author unknown)

In other words, spirituality is not a religion. As a matter of fact, there is no word for the word religion in First Nations tongues because it creates an unnecessary separation between humans and Mother Earth whose spiritual essence resonates through her natural warmth, sound and visual sensations that heals souls and raises spirits. In other words, our relationship with her provides a holistic road to peace and this goes well-beyond any human-designed religion which often seeks to control and manipulate.

Most cultures throughout history have used symbols as stepping stones to "the memories of the soul." They were thought to be the key to unlocking the doors of higher understanding or oneness with the universe. The Elders emphasized the importance of looking at symbols and the coinciding meanings behind them in order to link the past with the present. All across Turtle Island, the truth of our existence was and is expressed in the sacred knowledge that accompanies our sacred artifacts, feathers, drums, shakers, pipes, sweatlodges, totems, dances, songs, ceremonies and Medicine Wheel teachings.

On the Pacific Northwest Coast, where I am from , it started with Adaax (Stories) when during Yaawk (Feast season) elaborate oral narratives and dance dramas depicted our cultural history. In a pan-Native sense, Native Ancestors closely studied the natural world, becoming familiar with animal behaviour, plant medicine, darkness and light, the changing tides, and all other forms of nature. We treated each living being as a sacred member of the living world family; hence all living beings were referred to as People and given human attributes, souls and spiritual responsibilities. It was inconceivable for the tribes to view themselves as separate from the natural and supernatural worlds and it was this vast and profound knowledge that sustained us and we flourished.

Big Horn, Wyoming (largest), seventy meters across  (Age estimate: 2500-3000 years). On the June Solstice, a ray from the Sun cuts directly across the Wheel.

Scattered across the plains of Alberta are a number of stone medicine wheels. Some are extremely large, greater than 12 meters across. They are the remains of special ceremonial dance (called "Sun" or "Thirst" Dance) and celebrated by the Plains First Nations people.   The term "Medicine Wheel" was first applied to the Big Horn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming, the most southern and the largest in existence. Big Horn consists of a central circle of piled rock surrounded by a circle of stone; "Rays" of stones travel out from the central core of rock and its surrounding circle. The whole structure looks rather like the wheel of a bicycle.

Alberta has approximately 66% of all known medicine wheels (46) which indicates that Southern Alberta was a central meeting place for many Plains tribes who followed Medicine Wheel ceremonies (usually on and around the Summer Solstice - June 21st).

Despite their physical existence, there is still a lot of mystery surrounding them, because without written records, so little is understood as to their true meaning.  Many theories abound, including: (a) the wheels contain significant stellar and cosmological alignments, specifically designed in other words to point towards the rising sun or to certain star nation constellation(s); (b) the performance of specific rituals and ceremonies that have been lost to the mists of time.

WALKNG THE MEDICINE WHEEL

The Medicine Wheel assists in helping to seek: strong, healthy bodies (East); strong inner spirits (South), inner peace (West),  healthy minds (North). The term "Medicine" as it is used by First Nations people does not refer to drugs or herbal remedies. It is used within the context of inner spiritual energy and healing or an enlightened experience.

The central essence of the medicine wheel is that each of you must make your own choices. More often than not, however, these choices are influenced by other individuals (families, co-workers, friends, social and political environments). Not of all your experiences are good ones, there is a lot of hate, terror, jealousy, fractured families and societies in a very unsettled world which has resulted in an increase in various kinds of cancers. Sometimes you are not successful in working around the pain and you become caught up in a jungle of tangled emotions, followed by ‘not right action’. It is difficult to walk the earth walk with care always looking to your future in healing, positive and understanding ways, when it is so easy to just give up. But, then, this is the challenge isn’t it? To learn from those experiences that have not elevated your life, (even though it can be a scary process!) keep moving forward in a manner that pleases your Ancestors.  Remember: time is relative to the process of building your life and is no one else's business unless you choose to share.

To emphasize, there is no right or wrong way to walk the wheel or live your life, how we do it is our choice, and how we do it should not be judged by anyone. This is where the Five Native Ethics come in, which is a whole other teaching. Suffice it to say, that the Ethic of Non-Interference, teaches it is not my place to judge how you choose to live your life. It is your place to be there in friendship, love, balance, support and harmony when needed and even then your personal opinions remain your own.

After all, it was never the intent that the world would be borne out mistakes.  Each person is created as a "perfect soul" which reflects the central essences of the medicine wheel. I know, it is hard to accept perfect-ness when you are feeling decidedly imperfect on any given day. However, you are where are supposed to be at this point in time, and you are still perfect!

Life is an ongoing journey of personal redemption and evolution. If you wish to become a self fulfilling prophecy, it is best to think and walk in a positive way, for if you are angry, remorseful, and bitter, then your earth walk will reflect that anger. In ancestral times, Indigenous People greeted every sacred day with honour songs and prayers because physical life was a fleeting thing. There were songs to greet the morning Sun, songs to put Grandfather Sun to bed, Songs for Guardian Spirits, Prayers for Mother Earth.

Everyday day should be a good day with good thoughts, good feelings and prayer because being called to your day of quiet could be at any time. As one of my teachers once said, "If someone says to me, 'I'm not spiritual', I'll say, you breathe, don’t you’? If you breathe you are spiritual for Spirituality is breath and breath is hope." As the beginning of the Great Spirit Prayer says, "Oh Great Spirit whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me I need your strength and wisdom."

The Old People say that you are never the same person coming out of a circle as when you went in because so many new connections have been made. All things that live within the Sacred Hoop are equal and protected. It is a place where you come together in safety, trust and sanctity to share stories and feelings and help each other heal through both communal and individual laughter and tears. Eventually you will return to your starting place older and hopefully a little wiser to begin the process of walking the Wheel again, this time with new understanding, insight and inner strength.

Young people cannot learn if they are tired, hungry, frightened, feel unloved and/or if they’ve been abused both in their personal lives and in school yards.

      1.      Living in fear while in school or at home.
2.      On the receiving end of jealousy and resentment of any kind.
3.    Physically touched in a way that you do not want, including unwanted sexual advances.
4.      Isolated, hit, pushed, bitten or be on the receiving end of any physical violence.
5.     Victimized by racial slurs or because you are mentally or physically challenged. Cultural and Human Diversity are strengths not weaknesses.
6. To engage in any hazing activities that morally blackmails or humiliates you as a way of  being part of the so-called "IN" crowd.

IT IS NOT OKAY FOR YOU TO:

   7.     Engage in any intimidating behavior (i.e., verbal/physical threats, constant criticism) that makes someone feel victimized, controlled or fearful.
8.     Make someone feel that everything they do or say is wrong.
9.     Humiliate someone in front of others, by text message, email, Facebook, Twitter or any other electronic means.
10.    Force someone to drink, take drugs or engage in any activity that is unlawful or that seeks bring him down.
11.   Lie, cheat and/or steal and then blame your actions on another person. 

Spending peaceful time together and creating a Character Building Medicine Wheel empowers our youth to develop creative, fulfilling, and spiritually grounded relationships and lives. The Medicine Wheel provides a framework in terms of achieving an integrated non-linear, non-judgmental approach to spiritual, mental physical, emotional health and wellness. Change is always possible, to be a Warrior of Peace requires, courage, personal leadership, determination and effort.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WORKSHOP FOR YOUTH

MEDICINE WHEEL TESTIMONIALS

"Thanks for the day! Building the Medicine Wheel using as as the 'stones' really opened my eyes to what it is to be a good person. I will take what I've learned into my job as a police officer. You are also pretty cool, and funny." (P.A. Student, Police Foundations course, University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

"What a fabulous day. I can't think of a better way to bring us all together than building a human medicine wheel. I laughed, cried, you were wonderful, your energy and compassion is simply inspiring." (M.E., Canada Employment & Immigration Union Conference, Niagara Falls, On.]

"Shannon, I hardly have the words to thank you and Sandy adequately. People have been buzzing since the workshop....I've received lots of positive emails about the event, and verbal 'enthusiasms' too....Many have suggested bringing you back next year (works for me!). I knew we were going to have a wonderful day together, but who could predict that it would turn out as the single best example of teaching building that I have ever seen. Your personal power is awesome, and your ability to read the people in front of you is truly a gift." (M. Lee, Institute of Education and Learning.)

THE NATURAL WORLD comes in Groups of Four, Yet, There are Seven Directions!

East, South, West, North, Life Above the Earth, Life Below the Earth, Life on the Earth (and within ourselves)

ON THE EARTH:  Honour yourself and all life, for that is one of the mainstays of your personal journey. It is the essential INNER self of each person which is every-changed and transforming, that moves you beyond time and beyond seasons.

LIFE ABOVE THE EARTH: Father Sky the protector of the Universe, Star Nation. Planets are the keepers of the wisdom of the ages.

LIFE BELOW THE EARTH: Provides balance, cohesion, connections and rootedness with Mother Earth and the four great winds that founds their origins in the lower world.

Following the directions in a sacred way commits us to not only talking the talk, but more importantly, walking the walk. You move along your healing path embracing the unlimited medicine wheel teachings and resources available to you. Connections to culture, personal and collective vitality, personal identity, spiritual strength, all of which become everyday acknowledgements.

This is what Indigenous Renewal Ceremonies and Teachings are all about, this is why legitimate Traditional Teachers and Elders are needed -- sacred connections to each other and to all things in the natural world.

Click Fire - Shannon Thunderbird and Teya Peya's Affirmation Ceremonies.

FOUR MAJOR ARCHETYPES


WARRIOR (EAST) - STAMINA, LEADERSHIP  You come into your leadership skills by staying in your power, by extending honour and respect. You do this by showing up and being responsible and accountable. In other words, do not hide or hold back, but, respect limits and boundaries. Do not, in other words, interfere and/or insinuate yourself into someone else's world without being invited.  Always demonstrate the right use of power. Listen to the messages from Father Sky and the four great winds. Empower yourself by using a rattle, dancing, meditating while standing, connecting to nature and finding your power animals. Watch out for the shadow aspects of leadership: rebellion, 'power-over' mentality, riding the coattails of powerful people. Remember, stand in the sweet territory of being present, using 'right action', wise communication, and responsible position.

HEALER (SOUTH), REBIRTH Pay attention to the heart and its meaning. Attend to the condition and well-being of the four-chambered heart (full, open, clear, strong); when you extend acknowledgement and the arms of love to yourself and others, when you hold a balanced view of health you can experience all kinds of love;  Love between mates, between parent and child, between friends and colleagues, between professional alliances, love of self, Unconditional or spiritual love. Embrace the sweet territory of Storytelling, Singing, Dancing, Silence. Cradle yourself in your own self-love and acknowledge your strengths, and the qualities you like about yourself. Acknowledge the contributions you are making and that you have made. Acknowledge the love you have given and received and the love you are currently giving and receiving.  When you recognize yourself as a  person of worth, you can do the same for others. Avoid the following addictions:  living too intensely (lighten up, in other words), seeking perfection (this activity impedes the soul's progress), concentrating on what is not working instead of what is working, you  simply don't have to know everything, remember there is a fine line between self-love, self-absorption and self-indulgence!

VISIONARY (WEST) - INTEGRITY Tell the truth without blame or judgment.  Honour the power of prayer and live humbly. When you give voice to what you see internally and externally and when you bring forward your creative spirit and life dream you bring with you intuition, perception, insight and vision. Stand in the sweet territory of dynamism, magnetism, integration and strength/vigor. Meditate either standing, lying down, sitting up or walking.  Align your right words with right action, Honour yourself in equal proportion to others. Avoid the following addictions: Free yourself from patterns of denial and self indulgence. Never say, "I'm just a housewife, I'm just a postal clerk, I'm just a veterinarian. The word "Just" does not exist within the context of the Visionary. Avoid, in other words, self-abandonment, always seeking approval or love, trying to keep the peace, looking for harmony at any cost.

TEACHER (NORTH) -WISDOM  When you express the Teacher, you develop your capacities for detachment in a good way. Honour your heritage, become flexible and fluid, like the ocean. Demonstrate wisdom and its four major components of clarity, rightness, objectivity and discernment. Find your inspiration from your Ancestors, immediate family, friends, inspirational and historical and contemporary public figures. Sit in the sweet territory of silence. Immutable laws include:  Whomever is present should be there; When it begins, it is the right time; Whatever happens, it is the only thing that could have happened; When it is over, it is over. Avoid the following fears: Loss of structure, loss of turf, feeling out of control, feeling abandoned, looking always at a bleak future. Turn to your Healer Self to correct these things.