Four Directions

The Four Directions - Four Brothers

Plains and Woodlands First Nations Legends

North - 'Kewatin' - color white - cold fierce northern wind - Kewatin wanted to rule the world.
He turns south every year to ravage the land. He also brings herds of caribou to feed
when he freezes the land. As he weakens from creating cold and storms Sawin is
able to chase him farther north.
- North is associated with Caucasian people, winter and physicality.

South - 'Sawin' - color yellow - healing wind - Sawin opposes Kewatin. Their fight to push each
other in one direction or the other affects the land. Sawin takes ducks, geese and
waterfowl south to protect them from Kewatin's fierce cold. Bear, gophers and
groundhogs hibernate.
- South is associated with Asian people, the sun and intellect.

East - 'Wapun' - color red - keeper of the sun - Wapun means 'dawn of a new day' in Cree.
Wapun releases the sun every morning for its journey across the sky. He regulates the
length of our days.
- East is associated with Indian people, spirituality and eagle's vision as shared by
Cree elder Simon Kytwayhat.

West - 'Nepawanuk' - color black - constant wind that dries the land - Nepawanuk means
'the place where the sun goes down' in Cree. His is a kindly direction. He is the keeper
of the spirits so this is the direction people turn to at death. Nepawanuk promised
he would look after the dead.
- West is associated with Black people, Thunderbird and emotion.