The 7 Fires of the Anishinaabe

The Anishinaabe are the three original tribes of Michigan

The oldest brother, Chippewa, was Keeper of the Faith. * The middle brother, Ottawa, was Keeper of the Trade. * The youngest brother, Potawatomi, was Keeper of the Fire. *** This website has a variety of pieces on the Potawatomi and their beginnings, from the eastern United States to Oklahoma, with several hundred years here in Indiana, including the area that would become known as Pulaski County. This piece connects to the Potawatomi today, the Citizen Potawatomi, and the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center. This piece is liberally borrowed from that website: https://www.potawatomi.org/blog/2018/03/08/prophetic-wisdom-the-first-of-11-new-exhibits-the-seven-fires-sets-tribe-on-path-to-its-future/ . Paintings by: Jennifer Randell, artist and Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center’s Eagle Aviary director.

The 7 Fires

The Anishinaabe were visited by seven prophets. Each prophet spoke of a fire, an era that they would endure. Each fire drastically changed their way of life.

The First Fire

The first fire (turtle) urged the Anishinaabe to leave their home (now Eastern Canada and northeaster United States). They were to move west until they reached the land where food grows on water. If not, they would be destroyed.

The Second Fire

The second fire (two otters) represents the time they were without direction. The birth of a boy showed them the correct path.

The Third Fire

The third fire (pike) represents their arrival at the Great Lakes region, where they found wild rice growing on the water. They lived in what is now Lower Michigan, then moved to what we know as northern Wisconsin. Eventually they settled into northern Indiana and central Illinois.

The Fourth Fire

The fourth fire (eastern massasauga rattlesnake) foretold the confrontation with a light-skinned race. The prophet said this race would have the face of a friend or a foe, but they would have trouble differentiating between the two. This is illustrated in alliances the Potawatomi made during the French & Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Battle of Tippecanoe.

The Fifth Fire

The fifth fire (bear) foretold a time of much hardship. The loss of old teachings, an abandonment of traditions and an acceptance of false truths caused long-term negative consequences. The bear represents the sacrifices made by the Potawatomi people to keep whole, healthy, and together as a community. It was during this time that the Potawatomi were removed from Indiana, the time of the Trail of Death.

Side Stories Regarding Their Time In The Fifth Fire

This website has information about this period of time, but for extremely interesting reading, check out Untold Indiana, the Indiana Historical Bureau: https://blog.history.in.gov/recentering-the-potawatomi-at-sycamore-row-part-one/ & https://blog.history.in.gov/tag/potawatomi/ The good folks of Carroll County, to our south, in conjunction with the Indiana Historical Bureau, have recentered their story about Sycamore Row. “The sycamore trees lining the Old Michigan Road have long been the subject of much curiosity and folklore in Carroll County. But there is a story here of even greater historical significance – the removal and resistance of the Potawatomi. While the trees will likely continue to be the subject that brings people to this marker, IHB hopes to recenter the Potawatomi in the story.” While Part 1 of the Carroll County story focuses on Sycamore Row, Part 2 tells the story of the Potawatomi. While the story is told on our website, the Indiana Historical Bureau does it much better! https://blog.history.in.gov/tag/potawatomi/

The Sixth Fire

The sixth fire (muskrat) revealed the deception of false promises. Children were taken away to boarding schools, and most did not learn traditional teachings. This caused the near extinction of Anishinaabe culture and history.

Side Information Regarding Their Time In The Sixth Fire

The Trail of Death took the Potawatomi to Kansas. They were later removed to Indian Territory (what is now Oklahoma).

The Seventh Fire

The seventh fire (eagle) told of a generation when the Anishinaabe language, teachings and culture experienced revival. Eagles are sacred to the Potawatomi because of the promise and hope they signify.

Historical Timeline

The Potawatomi have centuries of tradition, all here on soil that is now the United States of America. This timeline begins with the 1400s, when Europeans encountered the culture and began a written history, and continues to today. https://www.pbpindiantribe.com/timeline/ https://www.potawatomi.org/blog/2014/07/08/the-illegal-annexation-of-tribal-land-by-the-city-of-shawnee/