About us
The Akiing Onji Foundation, an Indigenous-led charitable organization, is committed to the preservation and promotion of Indigenous languages, traditions, arts, and culture through land-based education. Our cultural heritage and teachings are deeply connected to the land, which provides beauty, health, spiritual renewal, and a treasure trove of sacred medicines and wisdom.
For Indigenous peoples, reestablishing a connection with the land is essential, as it symbolizes a link to our ancestors and contributes to our physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being. This relationship also entails a duty to protect the land and its inhabitants.
Our initiative seeks to motivate Elders within our communities to engage and share their invaluable knowledge and wisdom with the younger generation, cultivating a sense of purpose, significance, and community.
We warmly invite everyone to join our mission in honoring and safeguarding our heritage by returning to the land and uncovering the precious lessons that Mother Earth has to offer.
Our Core Values
Our core values guide our efforts: honoring Mother Earth, a commitment to preserving Indigenous languages and cultures, a dedication to Truth & Reconciliation through inclusivity, and working together for the benefit of future generations.
OUR MISSION
First and foremost, we are dedicated to teaching and preserving ancestral ways of life, which inherently protect Mother Earth and the gifts of nature. We strive to safeguard and celebrate Indigenous languages, arts, culture, and traditions through land-based education. Our mission centers on revitalizing these ancestral practices, raising awareness of Indigenous culture, and creating a nurturing, inclusive environment for truth and reconciliation. This initiative seeks to benefit all people today while paving the way for a brighter future for generations to come.
OUR
LOGO
Our logo showcases a circular design that embodies the cycle of life, the earth, and the interconnectedness of all living beings. It reflects the values of strength, unity, and harmony. Surrounding this shape is a braid of sweetgrass, a sacred medicine revered for its role in promoting peace and healing.
The braid of sweetgrass carries multiple interpretations, each offering its own beautifully unique teaching. One interpretation reveals that it comprises 21 strands—seven strands per bundle—symbolizing the seven generations that preceded us, the seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings, and the seven generations yet to come. Another interpretation highlights that the three strands represent the mind, body, and spirit, accompanied by virtues such as love, kindness, and honesty, emphasizing that these elements are essential for achieving wholeness. Each of these teachings holds deep significance.
At the heart of the circle lies the medicine wheel, which conveys numerous teachings. We encourage you to explore these teachings further, as they hold layers of meaning that extend beyond what we can convey here. In our logo, the Medicine Wheel signifies:
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All people: white, yellow, red, and black
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The four cardinal directions: North, East, South, and West
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The four seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall
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The four sacred medicines: sweetgrass, tobacco, cedar, and sage
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The four stages of life: elder, infant, youth, and adult
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The mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional states
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The bear, eagle, wolf, and buffalo
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The four essential elements: wind, fire, earth, and water, all gifts from Mother Earth
The predominant green color of the logo symbolizes Mother Earth, renewal, growth, harmony, and life.
Lastly, the design includes a young boy and girl, representing the next seven generations, along with a butterfly that signifies transformation and hope "from the land," Akiing Onji.
Eva Wilson Fontaine & E.J. Fontaine
Meet the Founders
Introducing Eva Wilson-Fontaine and EJ Fontaine, two exceptionally motivated and passionate Indigenous leaders. As proud members of the Peguis First Nation and Sakeeng First Nation, they are devoted parents and grandparents who envision a brighter future for the upcoming generations.
EJ and Eva have diligently collaborated to inspire and empower their Indigenous relatives while fostering positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. They accomplish this by preserving and promoting Indigenous language, heritage, art, and culture, ensuring it reaches a broader audience. Their initiative is deeply rooted in the wisdom of their Elders, who advocate for a reconnection with the land, emphasizing that healing is found in this relationship. They fully embrace this guidance in their daily lives. As respected leaders, dedicated entrepreneurs, and compassionate individuals, they exemplify a profound commitment to their community.
Akiing Onji, which translates to "From the Land" in Ojibwe, holds significant meaning for its founders, EJ Fontaine and Eva Wilson-Fontaine. The foundation draws inspiration from ancestral knowledge and the principles of Mother Earth, propelled by their collective passion.
To learn more about Eva and EJ, please visit the "Our Team" tab.
