To cherish knowledge is to know wisdom; To know love is to know peace; To honor all Creation is to have respect; Bravery is facing the enemy with integrity; Honesty. to face a situation is to be courageous; humility is knowing oneself as a sacred part of creation; the truth is to know all these things. (Richland, JB & Deer, S. p. 28) In the legend of Grandfather's Seven Teachings, a boy learned to protect and care for life by living with Mother Earth. This legend has been passed down from generation to generation as an educational tool for young and old. It is a principles-based tool that has helped many First Nations understand where they fit in the circle of life. As settlers arrived on Turtle Island, this legend became less and less respected and eventually, understandably, ignored. The disruption of teachings, traditions and knowledge systems was constantly demoralized by the imported ideology of the settlers. This disruption has become central to an imbalance within Indigenous communities and family life. Alcoholism, abuse and violence have become normalized and a once equal and egalitarian state has become a toxic, patriarchy-dominated nation. Traditional methods were slowly reclaimed by indigenous peoples as a tool of decolonization in the second half of the 20th century. In understanding and providing a framework for decolonization, Indigenous peoples look to legends, stories, and identity relationships to heal communities and individuals. In this article, I aim to examine how the legend of the Seven Grandfathers can be used as a holistic model of well-being for Indigenous men and women, both recognized by Indian status issued by Indian and Canadian Affairs. North and by self-assessment. ... middle of paper ...... ship. Citizenship Studies, Vol. 6, no. 4 (2002): 415-40. Print.Horton, Robert Animikii, et al. An irony of our times: the precipitation of patriarchy on our medicine wheel. In Protecting the Circle: Indigenous Men End Violence Against Women. Toronto, Ontario: Indigenous Youth Sexual Health Network and Ryerson Indigenous Student Services. 2009. Print. LaRocque, Emma D. and Public Health Agency of Canada. Violence in indigenous communities. Ottawa: GPO. 2009. Internet. February 23, 2010. Lindberg, Tracey. Not My Sister: What Feminists Can Learn About Sisterhood from Indigenous Women. Canadian Journal of Women and the Law, Vol. 16 (2004): 342-52. Print.Peltier, Leonard. Prison Writings; My life is a dance of the sun. New York: St. Martin's Press. 1999. Print. Richland, Justin B. and Sarah Deer. Introduction to Tribal Legal Studies. California: Altamira Press, 2004. Print.