Whitecap Dakota Circle of Life Teachings

The number four is significant to the Dakota people, and the Circle of Life is usually divided into four sections.  The Dakota people use the number four to represent many things.

The colours used in the Dakota Circle of Life are white, red, yellow and black.  When the Circle of Life is used around children, sometimes the colour blue replaces the colour black.  For children, the colour black is not used because it refers to death, so blue replaces the colour black on the Circle of Life.

The aspects are represented in the Dakota Circle of Life.  The Dakota people believe there are four important aspects to each human.  All these parts help to balance a person.

The traditional medicine (pejuta) are represented in the Dakota Circle of Life.  The White Buffalo Woman brought four different herbs to the Dakota people.  These herbs are sacred to the Dakota people, and are used for different reasons at different times.

The directions are represented in the Dakota Circle of Life.  The Circle of Life can help people find their way.

The Dakota Circle of Life can be represented in different ways.  A Dakota Circle of Life is sacred to the Dakota people, and needs to be respected. 

Acknowledgements The information in this booklet was compiled from cultural knowledge shared by Whitecap Dakota Elders and educators for the purposes of educating students on the Dakota perspective of the Circle of Life. We thank the contributors for sharing their knowledge of Dakota language and culture. Important: Cultural Protocol and Sharing Information It is important that the cultural knowledge of our Elders is used, communicated, and understood in the proper way. The information in this booklet is sacred knowledge that should not be used out of context or without first having the proper accompanying cultural knowledge. To ensure this knowledge is treated respectfully, we ask that you do not distribute or reproduce this material outside of its educational purpose without first asking and obtaining permission from Whitecap Dakota First Nation. This book was funded in part by the Government of Canada as part of the Canada 150 initiative.

Whitecap Dakota Circle of Life Teachings

Based on the Teachings of the Whitecap Dakota People Information Compiled By: Michelle Pantel &amp; Lezlie Goudie Cloutier In Consultation with Whitecap Dakota Elders Illustrations By: Natasha Chiesa, Christian Boyle, Colin Scrapek &amp; Michelle Pantel

To the Dakota people, the number four can represent four important characteristics of humankind.  The four characteristics are bravery, wisdom, fortitude, and generosity.  

To the Dakota people, the number four can represent the parts of the day.  The parts of the day are morning, noon, evening, and night.

The human life cycle is represented in the Dakota Circle of Life.  The Circle of Life reminds us of the sun and moon and how our life turns in a circle.  Just like the seasons cycle, so does human life.

To the Dakota people, the number four represents the different types of animals.  The four types are four legged, two legged, winged ones, and swimmers or creepers.

The four elements are represented in the Dakota Circle of Life.  The four elements are fire, water, air, and earth.  

The White Buffalo Calf Woman is very important to the Dakota people.  She changed into four different colours and each of the colours represent the colour of humankind.

The circle is considered a sacred symbol to the Dakota people.  The wholeness of the circle is important because it is used to describe the interrelationship between man and nature.

The seasons are represented in the Dakota Circle of Life.  The seasons cycle through in a clockwise direction.

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