The Medicine Wheel (Sacred Circle)
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The Medicine Wheel, or the Sacred Circle, is a profound Indigenous symbol representing harmony, balance, and interconnectedness. It is a holistic framework that embodies life's physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects. The wheel is divided into four quadrants, each representing a different aspect of being:

• Physical (North): Represents the body, health, and the material world.
• Emotional (East): Symbolizes feelings, relationships, and emotional well-being.
• Mental (South): Reflects thoughts, knowledge, and intellectual growth.
• Spiritual (West): Embodies the spirit, intuition, and connection to the universe.

​The Medicine Wheel teaches true emotional intelligence comes from balancing these four aspects of life. It emphasizes the importance of harmony within oneself and with others, fostering a deep sense of respect, empathy, and interconnectedness. By integrating the teachings of the Medicine Wheel into the Emotional Schools Framework, we honour Indigenous wisdom and create a more inclusive, holistic approach to emotional intelligence.

The Medicine Wheel & The Emotional Schools Framework

The Sacred Circle, is at the heart of the Emotional Schools Framework because it embodies the balance and interconnectedness essential for emotional intelligence. Rooted in Indigenous wisdom, the Medicine Wheel emphasizes harmony across four quadrants—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. This holistic approach aligns seamlessly with the framework’s mission to nurture students' and educators' well-being. By drawing from the teachings of the Medicine Wheel, the Emotional Schools Framework fosters self-awareness, resilience, and empathy, encouraging individuals to seek balance within themselves and in their relationships with others, thereby creating a compassionate and inclusive school environment.
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The Emotional Schools Framework integrates the Medicine Wheel’s principles into daily school life, ensuring that emotional intelligence is not just a curriculum but a living part of the school culture. Each quadrant of the Medicine Wheel informs different aspects of the framework: emotional well-being guides relationship-building, mental clarity supports academic growth, physical health promotes active engagement, and spiritual awareness fosters connection and purpose. This integration ensures that every student’s development is holistic, inclusive, and culturally respectful, making the Medicine Wheel not just a symbol but the foundational core of a system designed to nurture emotional and social growth in education.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action

• The Truth Reconciliation Canada Calls to Action are specific to Canada and focus on reparations the historical and ongoing damage caused by the residential school system. The TR aims to improve the and well-being of Indigenous peoples, covering areas such as child welfare, education, language and culture, health, social and economic outcomes, and justice. 


• Making an age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal peoples' historical and contemporary contributions to Canada are mandatory education requirements for Kindergarten to Twelve students. We must focus on developing and implementing Kindergarten to Grade Twelve curriculum and learning resources on Aboriginal peoples in Canadian history, and the history and legacy residential schools.  We are called to share information and best practices teaching curriculum related to residential schools and Aboriginal history, building student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect.​

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