The seven fires of the prophecy represent key spiritual teachings for North America, and suggest that the different colors and traditions of the human beings can come together on a basis of respect.
[citation needed] However, the last half of the prophecy appears to apply to all peoples in contact with the Anishinaabeg.
Consequently, with the growth of the Pan-Indian Movement in the 1960s and the 1970s, 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.
[citation needed] William Commanda, an Algonquin elder and former chief of the Kitigàn-zìbì Anishinàbeg First Nation, was the wampum belt keeper for the seven fires prophecy.
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 choose from, materialism or spirituality.
In the time of the First Fire, the Anishinabe 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.
[2]In heeding this prophecy, the Anishinaabe peoples, after receiving guarantees of the safety of their "Fathers" (the Abenaki peoples) and their "allied brothers" (Mi'kmaq) of having the Anishinaabeg move inland, away from the Atlantic coast, mass migration of the Anishinaabeg took place, proceeding to the "First Stopping Place" known as Mooniyaang, known today as Montreal, Quebec.
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 in their journey.
Eventually, a Potawatomi girl 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.
In the Third Fire the Anishinabe will find the path to their chosen ground, a land in the west to which they must move their families.
[2]From the cultural center on Manitoulin Island, the Ojibwe moved to the area about Sault Ste.
From here, the Ojibwe moved west, dividing into two groups, each travelling along the shores of Lake Superior, searching for the "land where food grows upon the waters".
[2]The other prophet said, Beware if the light skinned race comes wearing the face of death.
You shall know that the face they wear is one of death if the rivers run with poison and fish become unfit to eat.
[2]While at the "Fifth Stopping Place", the light-skinned people in big wooden boats, known as the French arrived.
At the waning of this Fire there will come among the people one who holds a promise of great joy and salvation.
This prophet was described as "young and had a strange light in his eyes" and said: In the time of the Seventh Fire New People will emerge.
If the New People will remain strong in their quest the Water Drum of the Midewiwin Lodge will again sound its voice.
In the prophecy, the people decide to take neither road, but instead to turn back, to remember and reclaim the wisdom of those who came before them.