The Four Directions

The Four Directions

According to “Native Voices” as a part of the National Library of Medicine, different tribes interpret the Medicine Wheel differently in terms of direction and color association. Each of the Four Directions (west, north, east and south) are typically represented by a distinctive color, usually black, red, yellow, and white.

St. Joseph’s Native American Studies curriculum follows the outline that North is red, East is yellow, South is white and West is Black.

The Four Directions can also represent the four seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter; the four elements of water, air, earth and fire; the four life stages of birth, childhood, adulthood and elder; and so on.