Our Founding Principles and Core Values

Sweetgrass is used to bring in positivity, strength and connection to our Creator and the Spirit World. When used for smudging, the rising smoke carries our prayers up to our Creator. Fire signifies cleansing and renewal for out of ashes comes new growth. In its natural habitat, the roots of sweetgrass are grounded into Mother Earth as it grows from the ground up. This reminds us of the importance to remain grounded.

The three strands of braid signify love, peace and harmony. When shaped into a circle, it represents the healing power of the Medicine Wheel.

At the top of the wheel are four eagle feathers for vision, strength, bravery and freedom.

Inside the circle is a dream catcher to protect us in our sleep and to cast away evil spirits.

Within the dream catcher are the teachings of the Medicine Wheel.

The four quadrants signify the number four: 4 seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter), 4 races of humanity (yellow, red, black, white), 4 types of life on earth (four-legged, two-legged, winged, water life), 4 cardinal directions (North, South, East, West), 4 aspects of life (emotional, mental, physical and spiritual).

In the centre of each quadrant is a teepee grounded to Mother Earth. Like a mother’s womb, when we are inside the teepee, we are nurtured and protected. The poles of the teepee stretch high into the sky to connect us with our Creator. The teepee reminds us of the teachings; 15 poles for 15 significant teachings; 13 to represent the 13 lunar moons in a year and 13 teachings (obedience, respect, humility, joy, love, faith, kinship, cleanliness, appreciation, strength, good child rearing, hope, and ultimate protection); the 2 remaining poles represent night and day.

The four cardinal direction lines remind us of the Indigenous People of Canada - Inuksuk to the North, Buffalo to the South (inland prairies), Sunrise to the East, and Totem Pole to the West.

The centre of the wheel is where we are, children of the Creator; children of the past, present and future; where Every Child Matters.

Surrounding us is the sacred hoop representing the cycle of life, our interconnection and equality. The circle is smooth and perfectly round. Not one life is greater or less than another. We are equal.

The seven moccasins tie us to the seven generations of children who attended Indian Residential Schools. Every child from every generation is accounted for. Indigenous teachings remind us that what we do today will affect the next seven generations and in that message, we are reminded that it will take seven generations to fulfill reconciliation.

Seven moccasins also signify the number seven. The seven stages of life to remind us of the children as they developed over time and how it affected their roles in the community. And seven for the sacred teachings: wisdom, love, bravery, honesty, truth, respect, humility.