St. Ignace in Mackinac County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Ojibwe Medicine Wheel

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 25, 2025

1. The Ojibwe Medicine Wheel Marker

Inscription.

The Ojibwe Medicine Wheel. . , The Medicine Wheel is sacred to the Anishinaabeg of the Great Lakes. The circle symbolizes spiritual and physical interconnectedness of all things on Mother Earth, including: ,

. The circle of life-cycles and seasons , . The circle of self-awareness - balance and well-being , . The circle of knowledge - wisdom and reciprocity

, Movement around the medicine wheel (and this garden) always begins in the east doorway (yellow), then travels clockwise through the remaining doorways to begin again., Each doorway of the Medicine Wheel garden is filled with native plants that illustrate Ojibwe knowledge, traditions, and stewardship in their ancestral lands. These plants and others are critical to environmental restoration of this region. The development of this garden was guided by the principle of "two-eyed seeing"., Two-eyed seeing brings together indigenous ways of knowing (one eye) with western scientific ways of knowing (the other eye) to answer questions, solve problems, and live mino-bimaadiziwin (the good life).,

"First and foremost, all plants must be treated with proper respect. Since individual plants are living beings with spirits, anyone picking medicines must first offer tobacco (li tabaw), then thank the plant, and then tell it what it will be used for before picking it. In essence, the plant is giving up its life in order to help us prolong our lives. It sacrifices itself for us, and as such, we in turn must give back something in return." , -Christi Belcourt , Medicines to Help Us: Traditional Métis Plant Use, "That September pairing of purple and gold is lived reciprocity; its wisdom is that the beauty of one is illuminated by the radiance of the other. Science and art, matter and spirit, Indigenous knowledge and Western science - can they be goldenrod and asters for each other? When I am in their presence, their beauty asks me for reciprocity, to be the complementary color, to make something beautiful in response." , -Robin Wall Kimmerer , Braiding Sweetgrass

, Waabanong , (East Direction). Waabanong represents beginnings. This is a time of nurturing, earning respect, learning boundaries, and kindness.

Color: Zaawaa (Yellow) , Season: Ziigwan (Spring) , Time of Day: Kizhep (Morning) , Stage of Life: Binoojiinhs (Infant) , Medicine: Semaa (Tobacco) , Element: Shkode (Fire) , State of Being: Wiiyaw (Physical Body)

, Giiwedinong , (North Direction). Giiwedinong represents going home. This direction is closest to the spirit world. This is a time for sharing, discipline, and caring for others.

Color: Waabshkaa (White) , Season: Biboon (Winter) , Time of Day: Dibikad (Night) , Stage of Life: Gete Anishinaabe (Elder) , Medicine: Wiingashk (Sweetgrass) Element: Noodin (Wind) , State of Being: Jichaag (Spirit)

, Ningaabiianong , (West Direction). Ningaabiianong represents getting settled. This is a doorway into the spirit world; a grounded time for living what you prepared for. ,

Color: Makade (Black) , Season: Dgwaagi (Fall) , Time of Day: Naakshi (Evening) , Stage of Life: Nini or Kwe (Adult) , Medicine: Mshkodewashk (Sage) , Element: Nibi (Water) , State of Being: Enmanjiwang (Emotion)

, Zhaawanong , (South Direction). Zhaawanoong represents going along. This is a fast-moving time of experimentation, making choices, and preparation. ,

Color: Mskwaa (Red) , Season: Niibin (Summer) , Time of Day: Shkwaa naakwe (Afternoon) , Stage of Life: Shkinligijig (Youth) , Medicine: Glizhik (Cedar) , Element: Aki (Earth) , State of Being: Wiinindib (Mind)

The Medicine Wheel is sacred to the Anishinaabeg of the Great Lakes. The circle symbolizes spiritual and physical interconnectedness of all things on Mother Earth, including:

• The circle of life-cycles & seasons
• The circle of self-awareness - balance & well-being
• The circle of knowledge - wisdom & reciprocity

Movement around the medicine wheel (and this garden) always begins in the east doorway (yellow), then travels clockwise through the remaining doorways to begin again.

Each doorway of the Medicine Wheel garden is filled with native plants that illustrate Ojibwe knowledge, traditions, and stewardship in their ancestral lands. These plants and others are critical to environmental restoration of this region. The development of this garden was guided by the principle of "two-eyed seeing".

Two-eyed seeing brings together indigenous ways of knowing (one eye) with western scientific ways of knowing (the other eye) to answer questions, solve problems, and live mino-bimaadiziwin (the good life).

"First and foremost, all plants must be treated with proper respect. Since individual plants are living beings
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with spirits, anyone picking medicines must first offer tobacco (li tabaw), then thank the plant, and then tell it what it will be used for before picking it. In essence, the plant is giving up its life in order to help us prolong our lives. It sacrifices itself for us, and as such, we in turn must give back something in return."
-Christi Belcourt
Medicines to Help Us: Traditional Métis Plant Use

"That September pairing of purple and gold is lived reciprocity; its wisdom is that the beauty of one is illuminated by the radiance of the other. Science and art, matter and spirit, Indigenous knowledge and Western science - can they be goldenrod and asters for each other? When I am in their presence, their beauty asks me for reciprocity, to be the complementary color, to make something beautiful in response."
-Robin Wall Kimmerer
Braiding Sweetgrass

Waabanong
(East Direction) Waabanong represents beginnings. This is a time of nurturing, earning respect, learning boundaries, and kindness.

Color: Zaawaa (Yellow)
Season: Ziigwan (Spring)
Time of Day: Kizhep (Morning)
Stage of Life: Binoojiinhs (Infant)
Medicine: Semaa (Tobacco)
Element:
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 25, 2025

2. The Ojibwe Medicine Wheel Marker
Shkode (Fire)
State of Being: Wiiyaw (Physical Body)

Giiwedinong
(North Direction) Giiwedinong represents going home. This direction is closest to the spirit world. This is a time for sharing, discipline, and caring for others.

Color: Waabshkaa (White)
Season: Biboon (Winter)
Time of Day: Dibikad (Night)
Stage of Life: Gete Anishinaabe (Elder)
Medicine: Wiingashk (Sweetgrass) Element: Noodin (Wind)
State of Being: Jichaag (Spirit)

Ningaabiianong
(West Direction) Ningaabiianong represents getting settled. This is a doorway into the spirit world; a grounded time for living what you prepared for.

Color: Makade (Black)
Season: Dgwaagi (Fall)
Time of Day: Naakshi (Evening)
Stage of Life: Nini or Kwe (Adult)
Medicine: Mshkodewashk (Sage)
Element: Nibi (Water)
State of Being: Enmanjiwang (Emotion)

Zhaawanong
(South Direction) Zhaawanoong represents going along. This is a fast-moving time of experimentation, making choices, and preparation.

Color: Mskwaa (Red)
Season: Niibin (Summer)
Time of Day: Shkwaa naakwe (Afternoon)
Stage of Life: Shkinligijig (Youth)
Medicine: Glizhik (Cedar)
Element: Aki (Earth)
State
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 25, 2025

3. The Ojibwe Medicine Wheel Marker
of Being: Wiinindib (Mind)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 45° 52.3′ N, 84° 43.922′ W. Marker is in St. Ignace, Michigan, in Mackinac County. It is at the intersection of North State Street and Marquette Street, on the right when traveling south on North State Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 N State St, Saint Ignace MI 49781, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

and on the Straits of Mackinac.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Anishinaabe Drying Rack

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 25, 2025

4. The Ojibwe Medicine Wheel Marker

(a few steps from this marker); Anishinaabe Fisherman (a few steps from this marker); The Huron Longhouse (a few steps from this marker); Anishinaabe Medicine Man (within shouting distance of this marker); Anishinaabe Woman (within shouting distance of this marker); Anishinaabe Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Father Marquette Park Kiosk (within shouting distance of this marker); Huron Indians at St. Ignace (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Ignace.

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 25, 2025

5. The Ojibwe Medicine Wheel Marker

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 25, 2025

6. The Ojibwe Medicine Wheel Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 428 times since then and 164 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 30, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.