--- title: Our History --- [Skip to content](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/our-history#main-content) [![GiZhawenimin vectorArt horizontal colour with slogan](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/GiZhawenimin%20vectorArt%20horizontal%20colour%20with%20slogan.png?width=500&height=156&name=GiZhawenimin%20vectorArt%20horizontal%20colour%20with%20slogan.png)](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/home?hsLang=ca) - [About Us](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/about-gi-zhawenimin-wraparound) Show submenu for About Us - [Acknowledgement](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/acknowledgement) - [Our History](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/our-history) - [What We Do](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/home/#what-we-do) - [Referrals](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/referrals) - [Contact Us](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/contact-us) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [About Us](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/about-gi-zhawenimin-wraparound) Show submenu for About Us - [Acknowledgement](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/acknowledgement) - [Our History](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/our-history) - [What We Do](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/home/#what-we-do) - [Referrals](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/referrals) - [Contact Us](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/contact-us) - [Donate today!](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/-donate) [Donate today!](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/-donate?hsLang=ca) # Our History ### **Wraparound Care for Indigenous Youth and Young Adults** Gi Zhawenimin means *I love you* in Ojibwe — a deep, unconditional love that means one is valued, appreciated, and cared for. Our Community Relatives (Aunties and Uncles and 2S folks) came together to promote and facilitate unconditional, caring, and supportive permanent connections, safety, and belonging, for Indigenous youth and young adults who are at risk or have aged out of the child welfare system.  Youth/Young Adults who are between the ages of  15-29yrs old who are missing healthy and safe familial connections. We focus on promoting community connection and cultural grounding, providing our youth/young adults with a strong foundation to support them on their journey to becoming strong Indigenous community members. Our community relatives are here to help guide, support, and never give up on our future generations. Serving Waterloo Region and Surrounding Areas ![GI ZHAWENIMIN VISION edit](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/GI%20ZHAWENIMIN%20VISION%20edit.png?width=615&height=800&name=GI%20ZHAWENIMIN%20VISION%20edit.png "GI ZHAWENIMIN VISION edit") ## In the News... [![Feast Video editC2](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/hubfs/Feast%20Video%20editC2.png "Feast Video editC2")](https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article/indigenous-support-group-celebrates-funding-with-feast-of-gratitude/) --- ![GiZhawenimin vectorArt vertical in colour with slogan](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/hubfs/GiZhawenimin%20vectorArt%20vertical%20in%20colour%20with%20slogan.png) ## The story behind our logo. We are proud and grateful for the art work of one of our young people, Deinaira. This drawing represents the logo for Gi Zhawenimin. ![original Logo](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/original%20Logo.png?width=219&height=257&name=original%20Logo.png) For the logo, I chose to draw an adult loon with two duckling mallards sitting on its back, next to an adolescent loon, swimming in calm water, inside a smudge bowl, all being supported by an eagle’s feather. The loon is important to me because it was my 4th foster mom’s clan. She was a very memorable, kind, caring, genuine person I’ll always remember. Also because it’s my mom’s clan (who I met through Gi Zhawenimin).![duckie babies](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/duckie%20babies.png?width=104&height=97&name=duckie%20babies.png)And one day she told me something I didn’t know about loons, and that was that they adopt ducklings (a different type of water bird) that don’t have a family, and that the loons will take them in, accepting them, and ultimately raising them as their own, despite their differences. I added a smudge bowl to represent culture and cleansing, for healthy paths for new families and connections. ![GiZhawenimin logo feather SM](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/GiZhawenimin%20logo%20feather%20SM.png?width=155&height=39&name=GiZhawenimin%20logo%20feather%20SM.png)I added an eagle feather to represent the strength of community, and how it takes the strength of community, yourself, and I to make things like this possible. I wanted the logo to bring a feeling of safety, love, and acceptance so that people could know family is unconditional, family is safe, and that family has no age limit. Thank you. Deinaira.     Wraparound Organization ## Our Mission To promote and facilitate permanent connections, safety, and belonging for Indigenous children and youth who are in care, at risk of coming into care, or have aged out of the child welfare system. --- # Gi'Zhawenimin Wraparound ![GiZhawenimin vectorArt horizontal colour with slogan-1](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/GiZhawenimin%20vectorArt%20horizontal%20colour%20with%20slogan-1.png?width=350&height=109&name=GiZhawenimin%20vectorArt%20horizontal%20colour%20with%20slogan-1.png) Gi Zhawenimin Wraparound Care for Indigenous Youth and Young Adults We promote and facilitate permanent connections, safety and belonging for Indigenous youth and young adults (age 15-29) who are at risk or have aged out of the child welfare system. Serving Waterloo Region and surrounding area. * [Learn about Land Acknowledgement here.](https://341686202.hs-sites-na3.com/land-acknowledgement?hsLang=ca)* [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/GiZhawenimin) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/gi_zhawenimin/) ![OTF-Logo_Vert-Colour](https://www.gzwraparound.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/OTF-Logo_Vert-Colour.png?width=203&height=250&name=OTF-Logo_Vert-Colour.png "OTF-Logo_Vert-Colour") We are partnered with the[Never Too Late](https://www.nevertoolatentl.ca/) program and received a Youth Opportunities Fund grant through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.   Copyright © 2026, Gi Zhawenimin Wraparound