As tribal people they adapted to clan life and their culture revolved around a Chief who ruled the clan. This Chief was the law within the clan and each clan has a chief and council. The Ojibwa of today live on Reserved land which was allocated to them according to Treaty law after the European invasion of America. Within these reserves there continue to be chiefs but they have very little influence on politics outside of reserve boundaries. They have the same rights has all citizens to vie for a position within the political arena. The exact boundaries and treaty rights are always in dispute.

From these Ojibwa prophets we get the prophecies of the Seven Fires. Each prophecy come from a different sage according to legend.
Seven Fires Prophecies
- First Fire Prophecy: the Anishinabe nation will rise up and follow the sacred shell of Midewiwin lodge which will serve as a rallying point for the people and their traditions will provide a source of strength. The sacred Megis will lead the way to the chosen ground of the Anishnabe. The ground is a turtle shaped island that is linked to the purification of the earth. This island is at the beginning and end of the journey. They will recognize it for it's abundance of food which grows on water. If they do not move they will be destroyed.
- Second Fire Prophecy: At the time of the Second Fire the nation will be camped by a great body of water. In this time the direction of the Sacred Shell will be lost. The Mediwiwin will diminish in strength. A boy will come to redirect the people in the form of their traditions. This boy will tell them what to expect of the future of the people.
- Third Fire Prophecy : There will come a time when the Anishinabe will find the path to the land where food grows on water. This land lies in the west and there they must move to.
- Fourth Fire Prophecy: A light skinned people will come. Some will come with a handshake and bring new knowledge and articles that, when joined to the knowledge and articles of our nation, will form a mighty nation. Others will be wearing armor and the face of death and suffering. Then two more nations will come and make it four combined to make a mightier nation.
- Fifth Fire Prophecy: There will come a time of great struggle that will involve all Anishinabe. In this time the Anishinabe will encounter strangers promising joy and salvation. At this time their will be those who suffer for choosing to live by the traditional lifestyle of their forefathers. At this time many will abandon the old teachings and follow in the strangers footsteps. This struggle will last many generations and will nearly destroy the Anishnabe.
- Sixth Fire Prophecy: In this time the Anishnabe will know they have been deceived. Many will have lost family, territory, and spirit. Many will have been turned against there tribespeople. The cup of life will have become the cup of grief.
- Seventh Fire Prophecy: In this time a new people will emerge. The young Anishnabe will turn to the elders for direction to the traditional ways but many elders will have little to offer, having lost the spirit of those ways in the suffering of the past. The persistence of these eager youth in the meditative silence brought about through the drum beat will be rewarded as they come to hear the spirit of the forefathers in their heart. With the knowledge of the forefathers re-awakened they will once again be as they once were many moons before.
There was an Eight prophet who spoke of an Eternal fire.
There will come a time when more and more people will be reborn in the ways of the ancients and these rekindled spirits will once again flow in harmony with the the Eternal spirit of the grand father and of mother earth. This Eternal Fire is the Eight and final fire but not everyone will find healing through its' radiating warmth. Many will choose to follow in the ways that lead to chaos and wars and famines and spiritual death.
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These are myths of course, but they may hold more truth than we dare to admit. The healing process of the Natives of America is a holistic approach based the elements of life. It's all about harmony and balance of Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire. Many rituals involved meditation and ceremonies to incant the spirit within and without.
The interpretation of these Ojibwa Prophecies is open for debate like all other prophetic work.
I like to think that the first six prophecies are all pointing to one picture. The seventh prophecy seems to evolve and include a rebirth of traditional ways. The Eight Prophet seems to me, to be the wisest as he tells of an Eternal Fire that is not bound by time or physical matter.
This of course is just my opinion.
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