1. Traditional Teachings
Sacred Hoop
Four Directions
Seven Grandfathers
Animal Totems

2. Purpose Participants will be able to:
Express key elements of the Sacred Hoop
Discuss teachings around the Four Directions
Name the Seven Grandfathers
Explain the tradition of Animal Totems

3. Religion & Spirituality
General
American Culture
Separation of church & state
Religious customs & traditions apart from other aspects of life
Traditional
Native Culture
Inter-relationship between everything
Spiritual tradition & teachings integrated Way of life

4. Native Traditions Essence Spirit
Help you to understand concepts and teachings
Do not generalize
Always explore & clarify

5. Sacred Hoop Great Circle or Circle of Life Affinity w/ nature
All life is Sacred & has purposes/teachings to share
Balance is a function of harmony
Spiritual/Practical
Everything shares life w/ human beings
Co-inhabitants
Image by: Robert Lentz
Bride Building Images

6. Four Directions N.A. teachings value 4 & 7
Relationship: mind, body, spirit & emotion
Elements: earth, air, fire & water
Life: birth, puberty adulthood & old age
Gifts: hope, faith, love and charity
Receiving, giving, determining and holding
Harmony/balance: self, w/ others, communities & all of creation
Image: Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards

7. EAST New beginnings, awakenings, hope, new life
Creativity, illumination, discernment & clarity of communication
Meditation & brainstorming
Spring
Air
Eagle or Hawk Medicine
Yellow
Image: Sacred Path Cards

8. SOUTH Rapid growth Exploring, experiencing & investigating
Sensation / physical body and work/career lessons
Fire/Heart: generosity & sensitivity
Power that guides growth
Living in harmony
Faith & emotion
Summer
Fire
Wolf Medicine
Red or White

9. WEST Strength and introspection Sunset & gentle endings
Cleansing & healing
Transform physical experiences into spiritual teachings
Dream work, prayer & vision quests
Claim power & determining appropriate use in the world
Maturity & understanding
Bear Medicine
Water
Blue or Black

10. NORTH Renewal & quickening Mystery: Sun never sits in the north
Stability, grounding & practicality
Winter
Mother Earth
Buffalo
Black or Red
Image: Sacred Path Cards

11. Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Seven Grandfathers
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of
Chippewa Indians

12. For Native People
…a way to remember the teachings and medicine that have been gifted to Native Peoples by the Creator …

13. Love To know love is to know peace … Care for one another
A way of life
Heart of all service to others
Honor relationships
Living at peace & in harmony
Grandfather Sun is warmth and
represents the love of the Great
Spirit for all
Sacred Path Cards

14. Respect To honor all of Creation is to have respect …
Honor traditions, family, others & ourselves
Caring for Creation
Value individual & community opinions
Listen & respond to each other’s needs
Work together
Open & honest environment

15. Bravery To face life with courage is to know bravery …
Self-determination through leadership
Stand up for convictions
Not the absence of fear – act responsibly in the face of fear
Courage in the face of adversity
Image by: Fr. John B. Giuliani
Building Bridges Images

16. Honesty To walk through life with integrity if to know honesty …
Principle for protecting self-determination
Know & be honest with ourselves
Accept & act on truth
Straightforward & appropriate communication
Personal responsibility to follow through on commitments
Demonstrated/valued in thought, word & deed

17. Humility To accept yourself, as a Sacred part of Creation is to know
Balance throughout life
Put others above/before ourselves
Recognize limitations & ask for help (when needed)
Serve the needs of family, community, Tribe & Creation
Don’t take self so seriously (Clown Traditions)
Reverence for Mother Earth
Willingness to protect all of Creation

18. Truth To know truth of these things is to know truth …
Faithfully applying teachings
Trusting the Creator
Actions we are called take are clear and in keeping with these teachings
Unity is established through focus of spirit, mind, and body, enabling the singers of these most powerful songs to sustain truth within the world.

19. Animal Totems
Teachings & Medicine

20. Animal Totems or Spirit Guides
All aspects of this world are Sacred
Animals have specific medicine or teachings
Helpful in obtaining direction
Totems are “Spirit Guides”
Protection, counsel, advice & encouragement
Each has different qualities, teachings or medicine
Totems are influenced/specific to various Tribes