Native Studies 10

Indigenous Worldviews and Circularity

Unit 1 Handout 2

Learning Goal:  I can describe key elements of Indigenous worldviews, including the concept of circularity, and connect them to how Indigenous peoples understand themselves and the world.

A worldview is the lens through which a person or a people understands the universe. It shapes what you believe about life, death, time, nature, relationships, and your own purpose. Indigenous worldviews across Canada share several common elements, even though each First Nation, Metis, and Inuit community has its own distinct traditions.

Core Elements of Indigenous Worldviews

•      All living things are connected. Humans, animals, plants, water, and land belong to one web of relationships.

•      The land is not property to be owned. It is a living relative to be respected and cared for.

•      Time moves in cycles, not in a straight line. The seasons, the life cycle, and the movement of the stars all follow circular patterns.

•      Knowledge passes through relationships: between Elders and youth, between people and the land, between past and present.

•      Spiritual life is woven into everyday life. Ceremonies, prayers, and practices are not separate from ordinary activities.

The Concept of Circularity

Circularity is one of the central concepts in Indigenous thought. Many Indigenous peoples use the circle as a symbol for how life works. Birth, growth, death, and renewal move in a circle. The seasons turn in a circle. A family's history moves in cycles across generations.

The Medicine Wheel, used by many Plains peoples, organizes the world into four directions, each associated with a season, a stage of life, a colour, and a set of teachings. This circular framework shows that all parts of life are connected and balanced.

Circularity in Practice

In a traditional talking circle, everyone sits in a circle. There is no head of the table, no person above another. The circle itself teaches that every voice matters equally and that the group is stronger than any individual.

Worldview and Self-Concept

Your worldview shapes how you see yourself. In an Indigenous worldview, you are a relative, a member of a community, a caretaker of the land, and a link between your ancestors and the generations that will come after you. That starting point differs from a worldview that places the individual at the centre of everything.

References

1.    Cajete, G. (2000). Native Science: Natural Laws of Interdependence. Clear Light Publishers.

2.    Deloria, V. Jr., & Wildcat, D. R. (2001). Power and Place: Indian Education in America. Fulcrum Publishing.

3.    Four Directions Teachings. (n.d.). Indigenous teachings and worldviews. Retrieved from https://www.fourdirectionsteachings.com

4.    Hoffman, J. (2016). The Medicine Wheel: Earth Astrology. Bear & Company.

5.    Saskatchewan Ministry of Education. (2002). Native Studies 10 Curriculum Guide. Government of Saskatchewan.