BOOZHOO INDINAWEMAAGANIDOK hello my relatives

Rebecca McMullin Southern Oregon University ERS 201

The Time Of the Seventh Fire

The accounts of our history that have been handed down to us by our Elders tell us that many years ago, seven primary prophets came to the Anishnaabe. They came at a time when the people were living a full and peaceful life on the northeastern coast of North America. These prophets le the people with seven predictions of what the future would bring. Each of these 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 even ires.”

The first prophet said to the people, 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 end of your journey. There will be seven stopping places along the way. You will know that 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.”

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The econd 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 Teachings will be lost. The traditional ways will diminish in strength.

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The Third rophet said to the people, “In the Third ire, the Anishnaabe will find the path to their chosen ground, a land in the West to which they move their families. This will be the land where food grows on water.” Elders have determined that this food was wild rice.

The fi h prophet said, “In the time of the Fi h ire, there will come a time of great struggle that will grip the lives of all Anishnaabe people. At the waning of this Fire, there will come among the people one who holds a great promise of great joy and salvation. If the people accept this promise of a new way and abandon the old teachings, the struggle of the Fi h ire will be with the people for many generations. The promise that comes will be a false promise. All those who accept this promise will cause the near destruction of the people.”

(WHS-1871). Artist Seth Eastman’s replica of the original pictograph on birchbark. The image depicts how each clan and their

Symbolic Petition of the Chippewa Chiefs, presented at Washington, January 28th, 1849, headed by Oshcabawis of Monomonecau, rd Wisconsin. (Little Buck-my ancestor is the 3 marten, he is closest to the ground) Courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society

leaders are connected to one another, in heart and mind, to Lake Superior and the wild rice beds.

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The ourth Fire was originally given to the people by two prophets. They came 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 what 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 the our 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 only bearing knowledge and a handshake.”

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 could be filled with greed for the riches of this land. If they are ndeed your brothers, let them prove it. Do not accept them in total trust. You shall know that the face they wear is the one of death if the rivers run with poison and fish become unfit to eat. You shall know them by these many things.”

The prophet of the Sixth ire said, “In the time of the Si th ire, it will evident that the promise of the Fi h ire came in a false way. Those deceived by this promise will take their children away from the teachings of the Elders. Grandsons and granddaughters 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.”

This was the time of the Si th ire. Children were turned against their parents and their grandparents. The teachings of the elders could not be heard and the elders grew sick. They had lost their place in the circle. The circle was broken. The weapons used by the light-skinned were untrue stories, racism, guns and bayonets, cannon and disease.

Every Child Matters

This seventh prophet who 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, a new people will emerge. They will retrace their steps to find what was le by the trail. Their steps will take them to the Elders who they will will have fallen asleep. Theywawaken 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 willask anything of the The new people will have to be careful in how they approach the Elders. task of the new people will not be easy.” The seventh prophet continued, “If the new people remain strong in their quest, then there arekindling of old flames. The Sacred Fire will again be lit.”

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“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, and Brotherhood. But if the light-skinned race makes the wrong choice of roads, then the destruction which they brought with them in coming to this country will come back to them and cause them much suffering and death to all the Earth’s people.”

It is said that we are living in the time of the seventh fire. The white race has to choose which path they will take. Will it be the path of destruction or the path back to traditional ways? Right now, around the world Indigenous protectors are in the battle for our survival and of all that live on Mother Earth. They fight the black snake of capitalism who is lead by fossil fuel companies. Honor the Earth Water Protectors are facing the fight of our lifetime trying to honor and protect the sacredfrom the black snake called Line 3. These lands are my ancestor’s lands. The lands he signed treaties for. The fossil fuel companies have taken “place” from me and my relatives and they are not replaceable. My children, my granddaughters , their children’s ‘ children and myself have had those stolen from us. Our place of being we never got to meet. They have stolen part of our identity that can now never exist.

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Treaty 1854 1855

n=be /Yaw-Ben , The sa me.. I ha so w a n ew ve f en n t o vo c el uff r fo y 7t ed h

“The p y a t s o l s a t wo ne r e t e n r in s c i n re r o . In i n u pe ar d i h mo h t o r ec ic c i h it pi ne . As e p h fu h r , if ar ’s e b a k k , t e r w en .” Win La k The k e s Man ta of ta m Man ta of et

r h e n l e h he l : t e s fu l o t i t

ov os c n e ha du r it e t e

Rig n , “t e y h ar i g at do te p o d co t t o n ff om Lin 3 o l el ed En id E r , t e m y e p b e r la s me c i p s Uni St e h r .” (s o l 3.or ) Bu l t e 1960s, Lin 3 is 1,097-mi r e pi ne t ex d ro E m n, Al e t Su r o , Wis s a d n u l t a l o r so r sa s y. Thi r or s ro n e “un he t d a d t ay r oy Ani n a op , t o g h Mi s pi R he te t s o f La er .” Lin 3 cu ac s 227 la n iv p in h ri f il r 760,000 ba l ta n il t pa -t o g L e 3 da It i ti g si p a l ov 50 co -po d an

“The U.S. is t -bo t u l h i h f Ani n a pe . A t e t he M s i p a w s i h a t wi ri –– t e no , nu t o , an l ra re ce h Ani n a .” s o l 3.or )

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“It is the time of the seventh fire. The time to choose our path is now. It is the choice that is upon all of us. It is a choice between life and death, a choice between oil and water, a choice for our food and our future.”

Win

“I ask you, do not forget us. Don’t forget what is going on in those places you never look.” Win La k

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/david.bartecchi8297/viz/PipelinesandSpillinIndianCountry2 012-2020/Dashboard12 i\pillinIndianCountry2012-2020/Dashboard12

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES https://www.stopline3.org/take-action https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58a3c10abebafb5c4b3293ac/t/5feb8b5b2a4 ee65eb2cba0bd/1609272161420/Greenpeace-Report-Dangerous-Pipelines.pdf

● The even ires Prophecy was taken directly from Anishasbe 101: Circle of Turtle Lodge ● All graphics and artwork were directly taken from the websites listed are all royalty free for personal not commercial use. ● Water Protector Photos are from the honor the Earth website and are not for commercial use.

MIIGWETCH thank you

References Bailey, & Circle of Turtle Lodge. (2000). Anishnabe 101 : the basics of what you need to know to begin your journey on the red road. Circle of Turtle Lodge.

Delucia, C., Kiel, D., Philipps, K., & Vigil, K. (2020). Histories of indigenous sovereignty in action: What is it and why does it matter? Histories of Indigenous Sovereignty in Action: What is it and Why Does it Matter? | The American Historian. Retrieved from https://www.oah.org/tah/issues/2021/native-american-history-and-sovereignty/histories-of-indigenous-soverei gnty-in-action-what-is-it-and-why-does-it-matter/. LaDuke, W. (2019, December 20). Prophecy of the seventh fire: Choosing the path that is green. PUBLICATIONS / ANNUAL E. F. SCHUMACHER LECTURE. Retrieved rom https://centerforneweconomics.org/publications/prophecy-of-the-seventh-fire-choosing-the-path-that-is-green/. Pipeline-Free Harvest. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.honortheearthmerchandise.com/harvest Place-based Care Ethics: A field philosophy pedagogy - eric. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2021, from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1061842.pdf. Various. (n.d.). Watercolor pink flowers - unlimited download. Cleanpng.com. cleanpng.com. Retrieved from https://www.cleanpng.com/png-flower-pink-watercolor-painting-clip-art-4648820/https://www.cleanpng.com/png-water color-painting-drawing-artist-illustration-wa-226706/download-png.html Various II. (n.d.). clip art work. Clip Art Library. Retrieved from http://clipart-library.com/search2/?q=watercolor+splash#gsc.tab=1&gsc.q=watercolor%20splash&gsc.page=1. Various III. (2021). Download cinnamon rabbit watercolour flowers drawing watercolor - rabbit watercolor painti PNG - free PNG images. TopPNG. Retrieved from https://toppng.com/show_download/200223/cinnamon-rabbit-watercolour-flowers-drawing-watercolor-rabbit-watercol or-painti/large. Various IV. (2017). Millions of PNG images, backgrounds and vectors for free download. Pngtree. Retrieved from https://pngtree.com/. Various V. (n.d.). watercolor painting printmaking - galliformes - ink transparent PNG. PNGHUT.com. Retrieved from https://pnghut.com/download/ATkt2xysgX.

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