FAQ

Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, is a cherished tradition, which offers a unique way to educate and inspire others. By coming together to fold origami fish we’re combining creativity with purpose, highlighting our commitment to protecting the water.

Anishinaabek / Ojibwe peoples in the Great Lakes region emphasize the sacredness of water as a living entity, requiring mindful stewardship and reciprocity. As we fold these fish, we set out to raise awareness for the safety and health of the waters of the Great Lakes and to ensure protection from further pollution or violations of tribal treaty rights by pipeline infrastructure like Line 5 now and for generations to come.

We believe that people power can change the world. By coming together across the Great Lakes region – and even the country – we’re working to spread awareness about the threat Line 5 poses to our water. It’s going to take all of us to shut down Line 5. This is a great way to educate people in your network about the risks of Line 5.

We needed to collectively fold 18,304 to break the world record for the largest display of origami fish. Together, we surpassed the record, with 86,262 origami fish at our display event on July 12, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

We are not accepting more fish at this time. If you’d like to fold fish and share them, we encourage you to gift them to friends or community organizations with a message around what they represent to you.

All the fish we collect will be part of a giant display that we’ll showcase at an event in Milwaukee, right next to Lake Michigan. Stay tuned for our official world record-breaking event this summer! They will then travel in small and large ‘schools’ to remind decision makers of our shared commitment to water.

The record is broken when all of the fish are together, you MUST mail them in for your work to count.