What you know of magic:
Magic is a type of manipulatable energy that actually makes up creation. It can be thought of as an infinite number of tiny strings tying everything into a physical form.
You yourself are magic, but a different form. If creation is a hand knitted scarf, for example, you are more akin to a richly woven silk tapestry. However, there is something about this raw form that feeds you; faith / belief joins with you, increasing your complexity and giving you power. Without the raw material, you would not exist. You do not know what existed before you, or before creation. You came into existence at the same time it did.
Not all mortals have the ability to manipulate energy. It seems to be something in the brain that creates certain pathways that can learn how to tap into the invisible strands. In essence, they learn to tie their strings to other strings temporarily.
Most are only able to manipulate one sort of string; for example, one might be able to manipulate water - making it move in a different direction, or crystallize when it isn't cold outside. More advanced practitioners can manipulate more sorts, more effectively; your original children, the dragons, had a variety of skills, such as weaving flame out of the strands of air (in a breath, as this was the best way for them to comprehend it), rearranging materials into fine metals, and shaping great citadels of stone in the blink of an eye.
Currently, your tribe ... knows nothing, beyond your shaman's ability to connect her mind to your being. However, you sense the pathways could be formed in this particular tribe if taught young enough. Sparking the idea or understanding will be very difficult without them already having a natural grasp on it.
I should add that to OP. lime green for questions, orange will be answers.