Bring people from all worldviews together for peace and unity
Inspired by the keynote Jim Dumont Onaubinisay (Walks Above the Ground) shared at the 2018 Parliament of World Religions, in Toronto, the seed for ISS was planted. He called for an Institute for the Study of Spirit as a way of bringing people from all walks of faith, all belief systems, and worldviews together for peace and unity.
Jim is an internationally renowned Elder, speaker and traditional knowledge keeper. He is known as the Gichi-aya'aag, the Elder of the Elders and Chief of the Eastern Doorway of The Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge, keeper of the sacred Waterdrum and leader in the Eastern part of Anishinaabe Midewiwin Territory.
Kahontakwas Diane Longboat (Mohawk Six Nations Grand River Territory) was Co-Chair of the Indigenous Peoples program at the Parliament and heard the challenge Jim put forth. In the summer of 2025, the Institute for the Study of Spirit was born.
The Institute for the Study of Spirit (ISS) is fuelled by the Sacred Fire of Peace at SOM for healing-centered leadership, spiritual training, and systems regeneration. Rooted in Indigenous spiritual wisdom and guided by ceremony, we are building a new mind for a new earth—one that sees Mother Earth not as a resource for extraction, but as a sentient living relative to be protected, sustained, and revered. We train spiritual leaders of peace!
Systems Regeneration Framed by Scale:
Deep healing of heart, mind, body and spirit for the individual
Community-based in First Nations priorities
Intergenerational capacity building, mentoring and training the next generation Healers
International networks of leadership, learning gatherings, ceremonies shared across cultures
This offers a rare synthesis:
“ISS - so local yet global at the same time-no one can say you are not big enough or not rooted in community!”
Diane Longboat
Our Covenants
Bringing Spiritual Messages Into Action
Love
we seek to emulate the infinite love of the Creator for all Beings
Truth
to seek truth in spiritual guidance for the Institute
Humility
to act as servant leaders
Respect
to honour the Earth and all Human Beings
Fearlessness
to live sacred guidance
Integrity
to embody the traditional teachings of our Nations in daily life
to give unconditionally with love
Responsibility
to live sacred guidance
Peace making
working for inner peace, peaceful relations and planetary peace