Mno-bmaadziwin (The Good Path)

Our elders where taught by their elders that after our life here on Mother Earth, our journey follows the Medicine Wheel. We believe that life follows the circumference of a circle, because everything naturally is formed in a circle. Stems and trunks of trees are circular, the sun, and lakes all start in a circular shape. The Medicine Wheel pertains to our day to day cycles, yearly cycles, and our lifelong cycles. Anishinabe people believe our life is in balance if we are connected to Mother Earth and our spirit within us. If we are able to respect everything around us, we will live in harmony and balance, only then we will enter the Land of the Souls at the end of our journey here on earth.

We begin in the east (waabinong), which is spring time (mnookmi), as a newborn (binojiinhs), where the earth is blossoming, coming back to life after the dormant winter months. Spring is the time where everything is flowing and abundant. It is the time of making maple sugar, and fishing. This direction is represented by the color yellow (ozawaa), the bald eagle (migizi), and our mental growth (nedimowin). This direction also represents the beginning of our day, morning (kizhep). To thank the creator for all the life that has been given during this time of the year, and "grateful in the way of being humble that we will always require guidance and protection" (Pitawanakwat [cited below]), we smudge tobacco (sema).

Our second part of our journey is in the southern direction (zhaawanong), our summer time (niibin). This direction is given the color red (mskwaa), like the berries that are full and ripe. It is the time of berry gathering, games such as Lacrosse, a time of ceremonies, like Pow wows and a time for taking in all of Mother Earth's warm rays. The southern direction represents our adolescent age (shkiniigi), the deer (wawashkesh), and our physical growth (wiiyow), and to give thanks to our creator, we smudge cedar (kiishig) to purify our soul and body.

The third direction of the Medicine Wheel, is the western direction (epangishmok), which represents autumn (dqwaagi), a time for harvesting rice and cranberries. This direction is where a majority of the hunting, fishing and gathering takes place, to stock up for the long, cold winter months. This direction is the color black (mkaadewaa), where it represents the evening time (naakshi), and our adult stage (ntaawgi). In this direction we need to get in touch with our emotions (enmanjiwang). The buffalo (bgwaji) also represents this stage. In this direction we smudge sage (mshkwaadewashk), so that we can prepare our minds and souls for our remaining duration of our journey.

The fourth and final direction on our path of life is the northern (giiwe-dinong) direction, which is the winter (peboon) or the elder (kikaa) direction. This is the time were the elders prepare to go home, to their place in the Land of the Souls. It is the time where we make baskets, regalias, and go ice fishing. This direction is symbolized by the bear (mukwa), the night time (niibaadibikat), and the color white (waabshkaa). In this final direction, the elders are encouraged to pass down their teachings to the youth, so the youth are able to continue their journey as well. According to my teachings, it is said that this is the time of year, where we are able to tell stories about our spirits without offending them, since they are sleeping. In this direction, we smudge sweetgrass (wiingash), Mother Earth's hair.

Pitawanakwat, Lillian. [http://www.fourdirectionsteachings.com/transcripts/ojibwe.pdf]

Overall narrative, Julie Timmer.