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.