Prophecy of the Seven Fires

Oral Tradition: Prophecy of the Seven Fires

Prophecy of the Seven Fires (seven prophets) foretold the coming of Europeans to this continent 3,000 years ago. In response to the urging of these native spiritual visionaries, sometime about 1000 years ago many Natives left the Northeastern salt water shores and migrated inland along what is now the St Lawrence River. Over time newer native settlements were created during this massive migration.

~As recounted by Eddie Bassett, Jr., Passamaquoddy

Why did a people who lived for thousands of years in an area decide to leave their homes and travel thousands of miles to new and unfamiliar lands? The answer lies in the reading of the Seven Fires Prophecy.

The first three Prophets brought a warning that a "Light Skinned Race" would be coming. They advised the Anishinaabe that in the interest of security, it would be wise to divide into two groups. One would leave and go to the interior and wait until the intentions of the Light Skinned were known. The other would wait and greet the newcomers.

Seven fires prophecy was originally taught among the practitioners of Midewiwin. (Grand Medicine Society or "The Way of the Heart.") The prophecy marks phases in the life of the people on Turtle Island (North America).

The Seven fires of the prophecy represent key spiritual teachings for North America, and suggest that the different colors and traditions of human beings can come together on a basis of respect. Originally, the prophecy and the Ojibwe migration story were closely linked.

However, the last half the prophecy appears to apply to all peoples in contact with the Anishinaabeg. Consequently with the growth of the Pan-Indian Movement, concepts of the Seven fires prophecy merged with other similar prophetical teaching found among Indigenous peoples of North America forming a unified environmental, political, and socio-economic voice towards Canada and the United States.

Originally, the prophecies were given by eight prophets in seven different time periods. According to oral tradition, all Algonquian nations located in the Wabanaki (Dawn Land) heard the first prophet. The remaining seven prophets appeared before and were recorded by the Anishinaabeg.

A prophecy of each of these seven periods were then called a "fire". The teachings of the Seven fires prophecy also state that when the world has been befouled and the waters turned bitter by disrespect, human beings will have two options to chose from, materialism or spirituality. If they chose spirituality, they will survive, but if they chose materialism, it will be the end of it.

Traditional Leaders believe that we have entered the time of the Seventh Fire, which is the time of decision between the two roads of materialism and of spirituality.

Seven Fires Prophesy of the Anishinaabe

~As told by Edward Benton-Banai. (Midewiwiin teacher and Grand Chief of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge)

Seven prophets came to the Anishinaabe. They came at a time when the people were living a full and peaceful life on the North Eastern coast of North America. These prophets left the people with seven predictions of what the future would bring.

Each of the prophecies was called a fire and each fire referred to a particular era of time that would come in the future. Thus, the teachings of the seven prophets are now called the "Seven Fires."

THE FIRST FIRE

The first prophet said to the people, "In the time of the First Fire, the Anishinaabe nation will rise up and follow the sacred shell of the Midewiwin Lodge. The Midewiwin Lodge will serve as a rallying point for the people and its traditional ways will be the source of much strength.

The Sacred Miigis (cowrie) shells will lead the way to the chosen ground of the Anishinaabe. You are to look for a turtle shaped island that is linked to the purification of the earth. You will find such an island at the beginning and at the end of your journey. There will be seven stopping places along the way. You will know the chosen ground has been reached when you come to a land where food grows on water. If you do not move you will be destroyed."

One

In heeding this prophecy, the Anishinaabe began a mass migration, proceeding to the "First Stopping Place" known as Mooniyaang, known today as Montreal, Quebec. There, the Nation found a "turtle-shaped island" marked by miigis (cowrie) shells.

The Nation grew to a large number and spread up both Ottawa River and the St. Lawrence River. The second "turtle-shaped island" marked by miigis shells was at Niagara falls.

THE SECOND FIRE

The second prophet told the people, "You will know the Second Fire because at this time the nation will be camped by a large body of water. In this time the direction of the Sacred Shell will be lost. The Midewiwin will diminish in strength, a boy will be born to point the way back to the traditional ways. He will show the direction to the stepping stones to the future of the Anishinaabe people.

Two

The oral traditions of the members of Council of Three Fires (Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi formed 796 AD at Michilimackinac) say that the realization of the Second fire came about the "Third Stopping Place" located somewhere near what now is Detroit,.

The Anishinaabeg had divided between those who went up the Ottawa River and those that went up the St. Lawrence River. After leaving the area about Niagara Falls, this group proceeded to the "Round Lake" (Lake St. Clair) and found the third "turtle-shaped island" marked by miigis shells.

They continued westward until arriving along the southern shores of Lake Michigan but by this time, the evidence of the miigis shells were lost, and the southern Anishinaabeg became "lost" both physically in their journey as well as spiritually. The southern group of Anishinaabeg disintegrated into what today are the Ojibwe, Odawa and the Potawatomi. The northern group along the Ottawa River divided into Algonquin, Nipissing and the Mississaugas, but they maintained cohesion that was not maintained by the southern group.

Eventually, a Potawatomi boy had a dream and pointed the southern group back towards and past the "Round Lake". The southern group rejoined not as a single Anishinaabe peoplehood but rather as a unified alliance called Council of Three Fires.

Traveling east and north, and then west, the Council crossed a series of small islands known as "the stepping stones" until they arrived onto Manitoulin island, described as the "Fourth Stopping Place" of the "turtle-shaped island" marked by miigis shell. There on the island, the Council met up with the Mississaugas, who then spiritually fully re-aligned the formerly lost southern group with the northern group.

THE THIRD FIRE

The third prophet said to the people. "In the Third Fire, the Anishinaabe will find the path to their chosen ground, a land in the west to which they must move their families. This will be the land where food grows on water.

Three

From the cultural center on Manitoulin Island, the Ojibwe moved to the area about Sault Ste. Marie, where there was the next "turtle-shaped island" marked by miigis shells. Baawating or "The Rapids" of the Saint Mary's River became the "Fifth Stopping Place" of the Ojibwe. From this spot, the Ojibwe and the rapids became synonymous with each other, with the Ojibwe known by the Dakota peoples as Iyo-hahantonwan ("cascading-waterfalls people") and later by the French as Saulteurs ("cascaders") and Saulteaux ("cascades"). From here, the Ojibwe moved west, dividing into two groups, each traveling along the shores of Lake Superior, searching for the "land where food grows upon the waters".

THE FOURTH FIRE

The Fourth Fire was originally given to the people by two prophets. They come as one. They told of the coming of the Light Skinned race.

One of the prophets said, "You will know the future of our people by the face the Light Skinned race wears. If they come wearing the face of brotherhood then there will come a time of wonderful change for generations to come. They will bring new knowledge and articles that can be joined with the knowledge of this country, in this way, two nations will join to make a mighty nation.

This new nation will be joined by two more so that four will form the mightiest nation of all. You will know the face of the brotherhood if the light skinned race comes carrying no weapons. If they come bearing only their knowledge and a hand shake."

The other prophet said," Beware if the Light Skinned race comes wearing the face of death. You must be careful because the face of brotherhood and the face of death look very much alike. If they come carrying a weapon...beware. If they come in suffering... They could fool you. Their hearts may be filled with greed for the riches of this land. If they are indeed your brothers, let them prove it. Do not accept them in total trust. You shall know that the face they wear is one of death if the rivers run with poison and the fish become unfit to eat. You shall know them by these many things.

At the time of these predictions, many people scoffed at the prophets. They then had medicines to keep away sickness. They were then healthy and happy as a people. These were the people who chose to stay behind in the great migration of the Anishinaabe. These people were the first to have contact with the Light Skinned race. They would suffer the most.

Four

While at the "Fifth Stopping Place", the light-skinned people in big wooden boats, known as the French arrived. Consequently the French were called Wemitigoozhii ("wooden-boat people"). Though the French Crown was interested in colonialism, as far as the Anishinaabeg were concerned, the French appeared only interested in commerce and trade through mercantilism. Together with the French, the Anishinaabeg formed trade alliances, which not only extended French colonial powers into the heart of North America, but strengthened the political and military might of the Anishinaabeg.

After the French came the Zhaaganaash ("Off-shore ones") of Great Britain. But out of the Zhaaganaash came the Gichi-mookomaan ("Big-knives")—the Virginians (i.e. Americans).

THE FIFTH FIRE

The Fifth Prophet said, "In the time of the Fifth Fire there will come a time of great struggle that will grip the lives of all Native people. At the warning of this Fire there will come among the people one who holds a promise of great joy and salvation.

If the people accept this promise of a new way and abandon the old teachings, then the struggle of the Fifth Fire will be with the people for many generations. The promise that comes will prove to be a false promise. All those who accept this promise will cause the near destruction of the people."

Five

When the Fifth Fire came to pass, a great struggle did indeed grip the lives of all Native people. The Light Skinned race launched a military attack on the Indian people through-out the country aimed at taking away their land and their independence as a free and sovereign people. It is now felt that the false promise that came at the end of the Fifth Fire was the materials and riches embodied in the way of life of the light skinned race. Those who abandoned the ancient ways and accepted this new promise were a big factor in causing the near destruction of the Native people of this land.

THE SIXTH FIRE

The prophet of the Sixth Fire said, "In the time of the Sixth Fire it will be evident that the promise of the Fifth Fire came in a false way. Those deceived by this promise will take their children away from the teachings of the Elders, grandsons and grand-daughters will turn against the Elders.

In this way, the Elders will lose their reason for living... they will lose their purpose in life. At this time a new sickness will come among the people. The balance of many people will be disturbed. The cup of life will almost be spilled. The cup of life will almost become the cup of grief."

Six

When the Sixth Fire came to be, the words of the prophet rang true as the children were taken away from the teachings of the Elders. The boarding school era of "civilizing" Indian Children had begun. The Indian language and religion were taken from the children. The people started dying at an early age... they had lost their will to live and their purpose in living.

In the confusing times of the Sixth Fire, it is said that a group of visionaries came among the Anishinaabe. They gathered all the priests of the Midewiwin Lodge. They told the priests that the Midewiwin Way was in danger of being destroyed. They gathered all the sacred bundles. They gathered all the scrolls that recorded the ceremonies.

All these things were placed in a hollowed out log from the ironwood tree. Men were lowered over a cliff by long ropes. They dug a hole in the cliff and buried the log where no one could find it. Thus the teachings of the Elders were hidden out of sight but not out of memory. It was said that when the time came that the Indian people could practice their religion without fear that a little boy would dream where the Ironwood log, full of the Sacred Bundles and Scrolls were buried. He would lead his people to the place.

THE SEVENTH FIRE

The Seventh Prophet that came to the people long ago was said to be different from the other prophets. He was young and had a strange light in his eyes. He said, " In the time of the Seventh Fire, New People will emerge. They will retrace their steps to find what was left by the trail. Their steps will take them to the Elders who they will ask to guide them on their journey.

But many of the Elders will have fallen asleep. They will awaken to this new time with nothing to offer. Some of the Elders will be silent out of fear. Some of the Elders will be silent because no one will ask anything of them. The New People will have to be careful in how they approach the Elders. The task of the New People will not be easy.

If the New People will remain strong in their Quest, the Water Drum of the Midewiwin Lodge will again sound its voice. There will be a Rebirth of the Anishinaabe Nation and a rekindling of old flames. The Sacred Fire will again be lit.

It is at this time that the Light Skinned race will be given a choice between two roads. If they choose the right road, then the Seventh Fire will light the Eighth and final Fire, an eternal Fire of peace, love, brotherhood and sisterhood.

If the light skinned race makes the wrong choice of roads, the destruction which they brought with them in coming to this country will come back at them and cause much suffering and death to all the Earth's people.

William Commanda, an Algonquin elder and former chief of the Kitigàn-zìbì Anishinaabeg First Nation, is the Keeper of the Seven Fires Wampum Belt

The Prophecy of the 8th Fire

They will come to a fork in the road. One road will lead to Materialism and Destruction.....for almost all living creatures....The other road will lead to a Spiritual Way upon which the Native People will be standing...This path will lead to the lighting of the 8th fire, a period of eternal peace, harmony and a "New Earth" where the destruction of the past will be healed.

Kindling the Eighth Fire

Traditional Mide people have interpreted the two roads that face the Light Skinned race as the road to technology and the other to spiritualism. They feel that the road to technology represents a continuation of head-long rush to technological development. This is the road that has lead to modern society, to a damaged and seared Earth.

Could it be that the road to technology represents a rush to destruction? The road to Spirituality represents the slower path that traditional Native People have traveled and are now seeking again. The Earth is not scorched on this trail. The grass is still growing there.

The prophet of the Fourth Fire spoke of a time when "two Nations will join to make a Mighty Nation". He was speaking of the coming of the Light Skinned race and the face of brotherhood that the Light Skinned Brother could be wearing. It is obvious from the history of this country that this was not the face worn by the Light Skinned race as a whole. That the Mighty Nation spoken of in the Fourth Fire has never been formed.

End

If the Natural People of the Earth could just wear the face of brotherhood, we might be able to deliver our society from the road to destruction. Could we make the two roads that today represents two clashing world views come together to form a mighty Nation? Could a Nation be formed that is guided by respect for all living things? Are we the New People of the Seventh Fire? Will you travel the path and help light the Eighth Fire?

Gidinawemidimin (We are all related)

References

• Dostou, Tom (Abanaki) (Innu Chief; Sub-chief of the Algonquin Nation) Massachusetts/Port Angeles, WA
• Benton-Banai, Edward. (Midewiwin teacher and Grand Chief of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge, from Lac Courte Oreilles, Wisconsin.) The Mishomis Book - The Voice of the Ojibwe. (St. Paul: Red School House publishers, 1988)
• Buffalohead, Roger and Priscilla Buffalohead. Against the Tide of American History: The Story of Mille Lacs Anishinaabe. Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (Cass Lake, MN: 1985).
• Warren, William W. (1851). History of the Ojibwe People.
• McFadden, Steven (1991) "Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth" Harlem Writers Guild Press.