The early Lakota people lived near a large body of water where it was very warm. Food was plentiful and there was no need of clothing. One day, a man appeared in the midst of a cloud, wearing a long robe. He told the people that they must leave their camp and travel to the north.
The people began a long march to the north. As they walked, two young men had a vision in which they were told to take flint and make a fire. No one know what a fire was, but the two young men did what their vision had shown them. They found flint rocks and gathered some dry grass. Then they struck the rocks together, making a spark that started a fire in the dry grass. So the people were able to warm themselves and to cook food.
As they moved on to the north, a firebearer carried coals from the original fire in a small container making sure that it did not die out. In the evening, when they made camp, the coals were shared among all the groups of people, who made up the original Seven Council Fires.