The Anishinabe (aka Ojibway or Otchipwe [Chippewa]) once lived along the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers, but most of the Anishinabe moved west after a prophet had a vision of the coming of a destructive people with white skin. Those who moved west fared much better than those who stayed behind when the prophesied white men arrived from France in the early 1600’s. It is said that seven neegawnnakayg (seers or prophets) came among the Anishinabe, each one delivering a prophecy, or fire.

The fires gave directions for the people to follow on their journey to a new place, as well as speaking of the trials and tribulations the people would endure as a result of their relationship with the white man, including the loss of their traditions. The prophecy of the seventh fire said that a New People would emerge who would lead the way back to the old ways for the people. It was also said that the Elders would not be able to offer guidance because too many of the old ways would have been lost. The old ways were to be restored by the dream of a boy, who would lead the people to a cache of the lost traditions, which had been hidden in a secret spot. This has not yet happened. Instead, an increasing number of people with some Indian blood have decided that they are the embodiment of the seventh fire. Some are well-meaning people who are attempting to restore some of the old traditions, while others are just New Agers who don’t have a clue about real Indian spirituality.

There are two aspects of the seventh prophecy that need to be understood. The first is the reference to a New People. Who these New People might be has not been established, and it is these people, according to the prophecy, who will lead the people to a better life. Since it was said that the Elders would not be able to help in the renewal, some people believe that these New People will be people of mixed Indian and white blood, seeking to honor their Indian ancestors. The second is the boy with a dream. Until these two things come to pass and have been identified, it is premature for anyone, Indian or otherwise, to be declaring that they are the embodiment of the seventh fire.

The seventh fire prophecy also said that once the old ways are recovered and the spiritual health of the people restored, an eighth fire of brotherhood between the Indian and the white man would occur if the white man made the right choice of two roads. Many today have stated that they believe these two roads are those of technology and spirituality. However, since the greed of the white man (among other things) led to the grief of the people, it seems more likely that the two roads of the seventh prophecy refer to materialism and spirituality. Technology is not necessarily an impediment to spirituality, but materialism definitely is. Since the seventh prophecy has not come to fulfillment, all of the websites and societies to the contrary notwithstanding, the white man has not yet arrived at the crossroads where a choice must be made. Of course, these things could occur at any time and many believe the current conditions among both the Indians and the white man are right for this development.

That being said, what is the ninth fire? As a mixed blood or Metis, I am heir to the traditions and teachings of both the Anishinabe and the white man. From the white man, I have learned that combining the best from the teachings of many tribes or nations can lead one more surely along the path into the Great Mystery. In the spirit of seeking the best of all peoples, a good explanation of the Ninth Fire comes from the Arab nations. The Arabic word ‘Ta’ (Secret Knowledge), encompasses the explanation of the number nine as symbolizing absolute completion, perfection and wisdom. While the number eight is the completion of life moving out into the world, nine is the acceptance of solitude and the beginning of the inward journey to the Great Mystery. American Indians have communal cultures based on social interaction, and this is also true of the Midewiwin, the Grand Medicine Society of the Anishinabe. The purpose of a medicine man is to serve his people. However, if the medicine man gains sufficient medicine power and knowledge of the spirit worlds, there comes a time in his life when he seeks solitude, to stop serving others and instead to serve only the Great Mystery. This is the path of the Ninth Fire. Here, one learns to combine the two parts of the spirit, not as a neizh manitoog (two spirit) without, but as a double spirit within. Instead of traveling the eight directions, one seeks the point in the center, the ninth direction which belongs to the Great Spirit. In addition to one’s original clan, one gains an additional clan, that of the forbidden Beneshii, the Thunderbird. Those who seek to adopt this clan will find only destruction. Instead, for those who are ready, the clan will manifest itself in their life.

Even though the path of the Ninth Fire is an individual path, the knowledge of the Ninth Fire is rarely spoken outside of the Midewiwin. Nevertheless, the path of the Ninth Fire has always been available to the wise men of our people, even as the prophecy of the seven fires has unfolded. The Great Spirit has given visions of the Ninth Fire to the wise men of all of the different tribes. Although such visions are almost always kept private, one well-known vision is that of the healing and transforming Parushka fire of the Pawnee.