My latest drawing … Turtle Island and the Four Directions.

My latest drawing (mazinibii'igan)
from the Indigenous Art History workshop

drawing: mazinibii'igan ni something drawn: a drawing, a sketch, a design

This is my drawing of Turtle Island and the Four Directions …

THE MEDICINE WHEEL

Medicine Wheels made of stones arranged on the Earth have been found in various places throughout North America, marking places of special significance, such as places of energy, ceremony, meeting, meditation, teaching, and celebration. Some estimate that there were about 20,000 Medicine Wheels in North America before European contact occurred. Some Medicine Wheels on the prairies have been found to be 5,000 years old or more.

That’s old.

The Medicine Wheel is, in essence, a circle divided into four parts, representing the Four Directions, which relate to and counterbalance one another to form a whole. This symbol is used to represent the Aboriginal philosophy and the meaning of life.Medicine Wheels are not necessarily a tradition belonging to all North American Aboriginal peoples, however, many Aboriginal groups have some variation of the Wheel. Nevertheless the traditional knowledge and views of the various first peoples of North America typically share a circular model of thinking.

As a whole, the Medicine Wheel represents the relationships between various elements of the world, both seen and unseen and emphasizes how all parts of the world and all levels of being are interrelated and connected through a life force originating in the creation of the universe. According to the Ojibwe, there are seven teachings within each quadrant of the wheel and each has sub-teachings as well. All parts of the wheel are important and depend on each other in the cycle of life; what affects one affects all. For this reason, the Medicine Wheel teaches that harmony, balance and respect for all parts are needed to sustain life.

Source: https://silvermoccasin.com/anishnabe-culture/

More Colour Theory.

I am a Métis youth taking a course on Indigenous Art and History in Canada. I will share my work here along with some of the thoughts and ideas I have while creating these works. I will also share some of the Ojibwe and Algonquin language we are learning.