The Sacred Tree, published by Four Worlds Development Project in 1984, was originally intended as a resource for Aboriginal communities involved in healing programs. Now in its 4th edition, The Sacred Tree remains a valuable book that provides an introduction to First Nations spirituality, identity, self-discovery, cultural and traditional values, and symbolism. The book can be used to assist students to understand themselves, their community, and the world around them. Through illustrations and text, the authors provide details about The Sacred Tree concept; the symbolic teachings of the Sacred Tree; First Principles; and the teachings of the Four Directions. A final chapter explains a code of ethics. The book explains that everyone has a mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional component to their makeup. Illustrations of Medicine Wheels, the inclusion of charts and brief text makes this a useful resource for people interested in learning more about the values and teachings of First Nations. Values such as respect, wisdom, and thankfulness are stressed.
