After delivering cultural support services and facilitating work placements for a Winnipeg Construction Association Training Project, First Nations entrepreneurs E.J. Fontaine and Eva Wilson-Fontaine identified a void in the market. In 2006, E.J. and Eva founded AMIK, Canada’s Original Indigenous Job Board. AMIK immediately filled a niche within the market, simplifying work placement between the country’s fastest growing labour force and employers.  

AMIK has since grown to become Canada’s #1 Leader in Indigenous Workforce Engagement & Training services. Through innovative strategies and customized solutions, AMIK continues to develop strong partnerships across the country, building a stronger Indigenous future – Today!

MISSION

AMIK™ is dedicated to enhancing the socio-economic participation of Canada’s Indigenous demographic through respectful collaboration.

VALUES

The foundation of our business is based on the 7 Sacred Teachings, which will continue to guide us into the future. 

• Love
• Wisdom
• Truth
• Respect
• Honesty
• Humility
• Courage

GOALS

1. Helping Canada’s Indigenous demographic access employment OPPORTUNITIES
2. Helping Canada’s EMPLOYERS recruit and retain an Indigenous workforce
3. Providing customized INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS and training to promote Canada’s Indigenous workforce

TEAM

E.J. Fontaine (Sagkeeng First Nation)

In 2003, E.J. Fontaine founded Anishinabek Consultants Inc. dedicated to promoting Indigenous socio-economic development through Business Development and HR initiatives. In 2006, E.J. and his wife Eva co-founded Canada’s first Indigenous job board - AMIK™. It immediately filled a void within the market, bridging the gap between Indigenous job seekers and employers using innovative solutions. 

• 2011 U of M Asper School of Business, Aboriginal Business Leadership Award
• 2012 U of M Faculty of Agriculture & Food Sciences, Certificate of Merit – Recognition of contributions to Manitoba’s Agricultural community
• Board Member of Food Matters Manitoba
• Board Member of the Mayor’s Indigenous Advisory Council for the City of Winnipeg.
• Certified Master Facilitator - Smart Work Ethics curriculum

Eva Wilson-Fontaine (Peguis First Nation)

As the Team Leader for ANISH Corporation, Eva Wilson-Fontaine has a long professional career working with Indigenous communities in social services and human resources. ANISH Corp. has become a valuable resource to survivors of the Indian Residential School system through the delivery of cultural awareness sessions and workshops on the effects and impacts caused by these events.

• 2011 U of M Asper School of Business, Aboriginal Business Leadership Award
• Former Trustee of the Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation
• Former Co-Chair for the Women as Career Mentor Gala Dinner Event
• Former Board Member of Ikwe Widdjiitiwin Women’s Shelter
• Member of the Manitoba First Nation Wellness Advisory Committee
• Certified Master Facilitator – Smart Work Ethics curriculum

Kat Francis (Long Plain First Nation)

Operations & Team Assistant

Kat is AMIK’s first point of contact and responsible for AMIK.CA’s overall administrative duties, website management, communicating with Amik.ca customers, and providing administrative support. If you would like to know about AMIK.CA’s services and advertising packages, or just need help navigating our website, please give Kat a call. 

Sherman Kong

Sherman has been closely involved with the Indigenous community for nearly two decades. He holds a degree in Economics & Business from the University of Manitoba and has worked at many large Canadian corporations such as RBC, First Nations Bank, The Business Development Bank of Canada, as well as private for-profit and non-profit organizations. In all his roles, Sherman has always had a connection with the Indigenous community in a variety of capacities including as a board member and consultant.

As an entrepreneur, Sherman has worked with businesses stretching from Japan, China, Scotland, and the United States. After working with Polar Bears in Churchill, Sherman founded Maple Leaf Survival™ - Manitoba’s Leader in Survival Training - where he teaches mostly private industry on Wilderness and Extreme Cold Weather Survival Tactics. His clients have included Manitoba Hydro, Stantec Consulting, First Nation communities, arctic research teams, and military service members from the U.S. Airforce to name a few.

Sherman is currently the Chief Executive Officer for AMIK Inc. assisting companies such as CN Rail, Air Canada, Payworks, Canada Life, Assiniboine Credit Union, PCL Construction, Rio Tinto, and others with strategic Indigenous Engagement Solutions. 

Tamara Spence (Lake Manitoba First Nation)

Project Coordinator

Tamara started her journey by working for an Indigenous law firm on the Day School Class Action. She travelled to Indigenous communities throughout Canada, bearing witness and transcribing the notes for client testimonies. This is a role she took on with respect and reverence. Tamara later took on an Office Manager position at Planners Plus Inc. and worked her way up to Finance Manager. During her time there, she was also the Project Manager for the 2016 Manitoba Indigenous Youth Achievement Awards.

Samantha Neufeld (Sagkeeng First Nation)

Samantha is a creative and Indigenous female leader with family roots from Sagkeeng First Nation, Manitoba. She has demonstrated experience and achievements in developing impactful professional development programs and creating/delivering trainings and workshops across diverse audiences. She has extensive experience in progressively responsible positions, with a leadership style that combines a capacity for strategic vision, entrepreneurial approach, and partnership collaboration. 

Samantha is a compassionate partner with staff at all levels, engages in public speaking and presentations, chairs committees, and deliver critical thought leadership.

She comes to AMIK with a graduate level education from the University of Victoria in Evaluation (Public Administration) and an undergraduate in International Development Studies from the University of Winnipeg. She stays connected to her Evaluation work by being a member of the EvalIndigenous network. Samantha has done presentations and workshops on Anti-Racism, Logic Models, Qualitative Data Analysis through an Indigenous lens, and many more!