Downie & Wenjack Legacy Space
The Peterborough Public Library and our funding partners are proud to be the first public library recognized as a Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Legacy Space
What are Legacy Spaces?
Legacy Spaces are safe, welcoming places where conversations and education about Indigenous history – and our collective journey towards reconciliation – are encouraged and supported.
They also serve as symbols and reminders of the important work we must undertake in responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
Explore Events, Workshops and Cultural Gatherings
Programming will include both community-led and library-led opportunities. Working alongside Indigenous Elders, artists, educators, Knowledge Keepers, and cultural leaders, we will create meaningful experiences that celebrate Indigenous voices, foster learning, and support ongoing reconciliation.
Medicine Wheel Teachings
Discover the teachings associated with the Four Sacred Medicines and the four directions of the Medicine Wheel. After reading about each medicine, take a moment to reflect on the teachings and their meaning.
On display until June 30
Medicine Wheel Teachings
There are many versions of Medicine Wheel teachings. While these teachings vary from one community to another, there are some foundational concepts that are shared across many traditions.
This information is intended as a brief introduction to Medicine Wheel teachings. For a deeper understanding, please consult with a Traditional Elder, Healer, Medicine Person, or other Knowledge Keeper.
The Four Sacred Medicines
Together, tobacco, sage, cedar, and sweetgrass are known as the Four Sacred Medicines.
According to some traditional teachings, tobacco is associated with the East, sweetgrass with the South, sage with the West, and cedar with the North. These sacred medicines are used in both everyday life and ceremonial practices.
Each medicine carries its own teachings, responsibilities, and gifts. All four may be used in smudging ceremonies. When gathering, bundling, or preparing these medicines, individuals are encouraged to do so with positive intentions, good thoughts, and prayers.
East: Yellow | Asemaa (Tobacco)
In Anishinaabe teachings, it is recognized as the first sacred medicine given to the people by the Creator.
It is used to help establish a connection with the spirit world and is an important part of many cultural and ceremonial practices. It symbolizes gratitude, humility, and respect and is often associated with the eastern doorway, representing the rising sun, new beginnings, and renewal. It is also connected to spring, a season of growth and new life.
Tobacco ties are frequently made and offered as a way to express appreciation and respect. During an offering, people may share prayers, intentions, or thoughts for themselves, their loved ones, or their community.
Presenting tobacco to an Elder, Healer, or Knowledge Keeper is a traditional act of respect and gratitude. It signifies a request for guidance, teachings, or support and honours the knowledge they carry.
South: Red | Wiingashk (Sweetgrass)
Wiingashk (sweetgrass) is a sacred medicine associated with kindness, healing, and positive intentions. Its sweet aroma reminds people to think, speak, and act in a good way.
In many Anishinaabe teachings, sweetgrass is connected to the Southern doorway, representing summer, warmth, growth, and vitality. Some teachings place it in the North. It is valued as a medicine that helps bring peace, balance, and a sense of grounding.
Sweetgrass is often referred to as the hair of Mother Earth, highlighting the need to treat it with respect and care. When harvesting, people are encouraged to gather only what they need and to do so mindfully.
West: Black | Mashkodewashk (Sage)
Mashkodewashk (sage) is a sacred medicine used for cleansing and purification. It is believed to help clear negative thoughts, emotions, and energies, creating space for healing, renewal, and spiritual balance.
In many Anishinaabe teachings, sage is connected to the western doorway, a direction associated with the setting sun and the season of autumn. This symbolism reflects the process of reflection, letting go, and preparing for new beginnings.
As a medicine of renewal and resilience, sage encourages individuals to cleanse the mind, body, and spirit and to approach daily life and ceremony with clarity, humility, and a good heart.
North: White | Giizhik (Cedar)
Giizhik (cedar) is a sacred medicine known for its protective and healing qualities. It is commonly used in purification practices, to offer spiritual protection, and in traditional teas.
In Anishinaabe teachings, cedar is associated with the northern doorway, which represents winter, rest, wisdom, and the guidance of Elders. These teachings emphasize reflection, strength, and learning.
Giizhik teaches the importance of respect, responsibility, and care for all living things. It reminds us to honour the natural world and to protect the life and teachings it sustains.
We want to ensure that the library’s spaces, programs, services, and collections reflect Nogojiwanong’s Indigenous communities and celebrate Indigenous voices and stories.
Thank you to our founding funding partners:
