“Medicine Wheel “ as a European misrepresentation of indigenous culture

The concept of the "Medicine Wheel" as it is widely understood today has been criticized as a European misrepresentation of Indigenous culture, primarily due to its modern invention and the distortion of traditional Indigenous teachings. This critique centers on the symbol's origins, its appropriation, and the resulting displacement of authentic cultural practices.

The modern Medicine Wheel symbol was created around 1972 by Charles Storm, under the pen name Hyemeyohsts Storm, in his book Seven Arrows. Storm, of German immigrant descent and claiming Cheyenne heritage, is accused of misappropriating and misrepresenting Native American teachings by combining elements from various cultures into a pan-Indian framework that did not reflect authentic Cheyenne or other Indigenous traditions2. Similarly, Vincent LaDuke, known as Sun Bear, an Ojibwe individual, further popularized the symbol by blending disparate Indigenous practices with New Age and occult elements, forming the Bear Tribe and charging fees for workshops and titles traditionally reserved for respected elders2. Both figures have been labeled as "plastic medicine men" by critics within Indigenous communities, who argue that their work was driven by financial motives rather than cultural authenticity2.

Indigenous leaders and scholars have strongly opposed the modern Medicine Wheel symbol for its lack of historical grounding and its role in displacing traditional teachings. Wolastoqew academic Andrea Bear Nicholas argues that the widespread adoption of the Medicine Wheel, without critical assessment of its fraudulent origins, has nearly eradicated the unique oral traditions of many Indigenous nations, viewing it as a form of ongoing colonial assault2. Rupert Costo, co-founder of the American Indian Historical Society, condemned Storm’s Seven Arrows as a desecration of Cheyenne religion, filled with inaccuracies and blasphemous portrayals that mock Indigenous beliefs2. Lakota leader Rick Williams has also criticized Sun Bear’s eclectic mixing of cultural elements, warning that such practices create spiritual imbalances and endanger practitioners by distorting the specific purposes of traditional rituals2.

While some Indigenous groups have integrated versions of the Medicine Wheel into their teachings, often syncretizing it with traditional concepts dating back thousands of years, the pan-Indian and New Age contexts in which it is frequently presented are seen as problematic2. The modern symbol is often framed as an individualistic tool for personal development, with colored quadrants representing personal qualities—a stark contrast to Indigenous views that root ceremonies and sacred sites in community and collective well-being2. Historically, physical medicine wheels, such as those dating back to 4000 BCE in Canada and the Bighorn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming, held specific cultural and sometimes celestial significance, but the term "Medicine Wheel" itself is a Euro-centric label coined by researchers, not a universal Indigenous concept1.

The appropriation of the Medicine Wheel symbol by non-Indigenous individuals and the New Age movement has been criticized for commodifying and eroding respect for Indigenous traditions1. Critics argue that these distortions contribute to the creation of fictional Indigenous identities, effectively "killing off" real cultural practices by replacing them with inauthentic amalgamations2. Efforts to decolonize research and healthcare, such as the Medicine Wheel Systems Theory (MWST) proposed by Métis scholar Andrea Menard, aim to authentically integrate Indigenous epistemologies without appropriation, emphasizing the need to respect and include traditional systems alongside Western frameworks4. Similarly, proposals like the 7-Direction Medicine Wheel Indigenous Research Model by Tammy Williams seek to reclaim and adapt the concept within a framework that respects the diversity of Indigenous nations’ beliefs, countering the colonial impact of earlier misrepresentations5.

In summary, the "Medicine Wheel" as popularized in modern contexts is widely regarded as a European misrepresentation due to its invented origins, cultural distortions, and displacement of authentic Indigenous teachings, prompting ongoing efforts within Indigenous communities to reclaim and protect their traditional knowledge.

Citations:

1. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/health-and-medicine/medicine-wheel-symbol
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine_wheel_(symbol)
3. https://tribaltradeco.com/blogs/medicine-wheel/medicine-wheel-teachings-native-medicine-wheel-system-explained
4. https://indigenousconnect.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/telehealth_Jan-16-2024.pdf
5. https://library2.smu.ca/bitstream/handle/01/29564/Williams_Tammy_MASTERS_2021.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
6. https://mixedbloodmetis.com/the-medicine-wheel
7. https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/what-is-an-indigenous-medicine-wheel
8. https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2015/04/teddy-andersons-medicine-wheel-stories.html
9. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/first-nations-culture-in-classrooms-can-be-inappropriate-says-ron-mclester-1.3318105
10. https://laurentian.scholaris.ca/bitstreams/47a9e980-5d03-4fd0-a7a2-926322d2d3ef/download

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