Ekvn-Yefolecv (pronounced: Ee Gun Yee Fo Lee Ja) is an intentional Ecovillage community of Indigenous Maskoke persons who, after 180 years of having been forcibly removed from traditional homelands – in what is commonly and colonially known as Alabama – have returned to reinvigorate their language and culture by recreating a society reflective of one from which the Maskoke lexicon originally emerged, and that is premised on balanced relations with the natural world. This is a bold push for cultural preservation, anchored by the choice to return to their ancestral land and to support the subsequent development of the Ekvn-Yefolecv Ecovillage as a fully off-the-grid and self-sustaining community of homes, farming, fishing, schools, and earned-income activities. Ekvn-Yefolecv is sharing a holistic model that is inspiring other Indigenous communities also in danger of having their culture and language erased. 

In June 2024, we, along with AmbitioUS funders, Economic Trailblazer grantees, and movement leaders, were invited to immerse ourselves in the vibrant community of Ekvn-Yefolecv as part of our ReMEMBER: The FUTURE is at STAKE Southern Immersive Learning Journey. Participants engaged firsthand with the remarkable endeavors of community members as they work to recreate a society that honors their ancestral heritage. AmbitioUS provided $25,000 of renewed general operating support and an additional $5,000 investment for their participation in AmbitioUS’ ReMEMBER: The FUTURE is at STAKE Southern Immersive Learning Journey.