Here is the wrap-up for the Prophecies, outlining all the stops with their locations. I would love some comments, questions and discussion. These are some of the most powerful stories.
Details on the Trail
From: The Mishomis Book, Eddie Benton Benay, as shown in the Teaching Guide for the PBS Series: Ojibwemowin http://www.ojibwe.org/home/pdf/episo...cher_guide.pdf
At each major stopping place, the Sacred Shell appeared to let them they had reached a destination described by the prophets. The sacred scrolls and the Water Drum were carried the whole way, as was the Sacred Fire.
The First Stop
[T]he first of seven stopping places during the long migration would be a turtle shaped mi-ni-si’ [[island). A woman about to give birth had a ba-wa-zi-gay-win’ [[dream) about a turtle-shaped island in a river pointing toward the setting sun. The elders of the Midiwiwin Lodge instructed the Anishinabe to locate this island. It was finally found in the St. Lawrence River near modern-day Montreal.
On their journey they had many adventures, including fighting with people who challenged them on the way. Although determined to travel in peace, they had to defend themselves when challenged. The biggest challenges came from the Nah-duwayg’, the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy.
A group of men maintained the Manido ish-ko-day’ [[the Sacred Fire), which was never allowed to die. All of the campfires of the Anishinabe came from coals taken from the Sacred Fire. This represented the continuity of life among the Anishinabe. Some clan and family groups thought the migration was over and settled along the way. These groups, too, were given coals from the Sacred Fire.
The Second Stop
The second major stopping place was near the place of water and thunder the Ojibwe later called Kichi-ka-be-kong. It is also known as Niagra Falls. The Sacred Fire was moved here. It was here that peace was finally established between the Anishinabe and the Iroquois, who gave the people a wampum belt made out of a special type of shell. The O-pwa’-gun [[pipe) was shared among the two nations.
The Third Stop
The third major stopping place was near the Detroit River, which connects Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron to Lake Erie. At each stopping place, the Sacred Megis [[turtle shell) appeared to the people.
Developments on the Trail
During the migration, three important groups developed in the Ojibwe Nation, each group responsible for tasks necessary for the survival of the Anishinabe people. The Ish-ko-day’-wa-tomi maintained the Sacred Fire. These people were later called the O-day’-wa-tomi and even later called the Potawatomi. The O-daw-wahg’ provided food goods and supplies to the people. These people were later called the Ottawa. The Ojibway were the people’s faith keepers, entrusted with the sacred scrolls of the Midewiwin and the Waterdrum. These people were mistakenly called the Chippewa. The Anishinabe became known as the Nation of the Three Fires because of the emergence of these three important groups.
The Fourth Stop
[T]he people continued until they came to a large body of fresh water. This was the place spoken of in the prophecy of the Second Fire. It was probably Lake Michigan. Again, some of the people stayed and some drifted South. As foretold in the prophecy of the Second Fire, some of the people began to wander from the path of the teachings of the Midewiwin Lodge. A small number of people, mostly the tribal elders, kept the Sacred Fire from going out.
There was a prophesy that said “a boy would be born to show the Anishinaabe back to the sacred ways.” The boy was born among the people, and he had a dream of stones leading across the water. The dream led the people to the islands that led across the great northern fresh water sea.
The Sacred Megis appeared on the largest island in the chain, Manitoulin Island. This became the capital of the Ojibwe nation. The Midewiwin Way once again was known to the people and the Clan System became important. Manitoulin Island was the fourth major stopping place of the Ojibwe migration.
The Fifth Stop
The fifth stopping place was Baw-wa-ting’, near Sault Ste. Marie. This was a place of plentiful food and, later, trade with the Light-skinned race. The migration split into two groups here, one following the northern shore of Lake Superior and the other the southern shore. Both groups left rock carvings.
The Sixth Stop
The northern group of Anishinabe went to the western end of what is now called Lake Superior and found Spirit Island. The Sacred Shell rose up to the people here. Parts of the southern group came here, too. Near Spirit Island is where the prophesy was fulfilled and the Anishinabe people found “the food that grows on water.” Ma-no’-min [[wild rice) was the sacred gift from the chosen ground. Spirit Island was the sixth stopping place of the migration.
The Seventh Stop
The elders of the Midewiwin Lodge thought the journey wasn’t quite over. An ancient prophesy spoke of a turtle shaped island at the end of the journey. The southern group of Anishinabe had found an island meeting this description. Mo-ning-wun’-a-kawn-ing [[Madeline Island) was found by the people, the Sacred Shell rose out of the water, and tobacco was placed on its shore. The Waterdrum had found its home in this, the seventh and final stopping place of the migration. The Sacred Fire was carried here and continues to burn brightly.
