The Martin Family Initiative

10/23/2026

What could the Indigenous Education Leadership Collective look like in your school? This upcoming cohort will include a specific focus on student pathways, supporting students as they move through school and on to what comes next.

The Collective connects Indigenous leadership teams in collaborative inquiry, giving you the time, network, and support to turn what you know about your students and community into lasting impact. Your team chooses the focus with your community, and we walk alongside you.

Learn more on the TREES Network: www.treesnetwork.themfi.ca/thecollective

📌 Our final virtual information session is Thursday, October 29 at 2:00 pm ET. Just click the date on the Collective page to join!

Know a First Nations secondary school leader who would benefit? Share this with them.

10/21/2026

📣 Our last virtual information session for the Indigenous Education Leadership Collective is coming up on Thu, Oct 29 at 2:00 pm ET!

If you’ve been thinking about joining our second cohort, this is your chance to meet the team and ask your questions. No registration needed. Visit the Collective page and click the date to join: https://treesnetwork.themfi.ca/thecollective/

10/16/2026

Our first virtual information session is today at 3:00 pm ET!

Join us to learn more about the Indigenous Education Leadership Collective. Our team will share how the Collective works, what the two-year journey looks like, and how First Nations secondary school leadership teams can take part. Bring your questions, and bring your team.

No registration needed. Visit The Collective page, click the session date, and you’ll go straight to the Zoom:
https://treesnetwork.themfi.ca/thecollective/

Can’t make it today? More sessions are coming up:
→ Tue, Oct 20 · 6:00 pm ET
→ Wed, Oct 21 · 2:00 pm ET
→ Thu, Oct 29 · 2:00 pm ET

Questions? Reach out to [email protected].

10/15/2026

What does your school gain by joining the Indigenous Collective? Swipe through to see all 10 outcomes!

From a national network of Indigenous schools to leadership coaching, a School Improvement Plan built through inquiry, and a certificate of completion from OISE and MFI, the Collective supports leadership teams every step of the way.

Our first virtual info session is tomorrow, Friday, October 16 at 3:00 pm ET. Can't make it? More sessions are coming up on October 20, 21, and 29.

Learn more:
https://treesnetwork.themfi.ca/thecollective/

Know a First Nations secondary school leader who would benefit? Share this with them!

10/09/2026

What is the Indigenous Education Leadership Collective? Swipe through to learn how First Nations school leadership teams are coming together from across Canada to learn, plan, and lead with their schools.

The Collective is not prescriptive. Each school's work remains locally defined, guided by community priorities and values, and strengthened through relationships across a national network.

Learn more: https://treesnetwork.themfi.ca/thecollective/

10/08/2026

The second cohort of the Indigenous Education Leadership Collective is now forming, and we are welcoming First Nations secondary schools to join us!

The Collective is a two-year professional learning experience that brings together First Nations school leadership teams from across Canada. Grounded in relationship, reciprocity, and shared wisdom, it supports teams as they plan school improvement rooted in what their community needs and values. For this cohort, the focus is student pathways. School goals may range from new cooperative education programs to industry partnerships, to student achievement and graduation.

Hear from the leaders who have walked this journey, and learn more: https://treesnetwork.themfi.ca/thecollective/

Know a First Nations secondary school leader who would benefit? Share this with them!

10/07/2026

Earlier in September, MFI was in Whitehorse with the YFNED Early Years team for two days of Early Years Toolbox training. It was an exciting time to be there, with an awesome group of new team members joining from communities across the territory.

The training was led by the incredible Rebecca Lariviere, an Early Childhood Education instructor at Red River College Polytechnic and the person who first conceptualized the Early Years Toolbox at MFI nearly seven years ago. Rebecca’s history with the Toolbox, her heart knowledge of early childhood, and the passion and warmth she brings to training made the two days really special. She has a way of making the learning practical and meaningful while creating so much space for conversation, reflection and connection.

It was great to be back with the YFNED team in beautiful Whitehorse and to see the Early Years team continuing to grow. There was so much warm energy in the room, and we’re incredibly grateful for their trust and partnership.

10/05/2026

“𝑊𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜.” — Monique Gray Smith

When we opened our Truth and Reconciliation Week series, Monique reminded us that stories are meant to be returned to. Each time we come back to one, we may hear something new, because we have changed since the last time we listened. If you missed her story, we invite you to take a few minutes with it. And if you’ve already watched it, this may be a good time to listen again.

Watch 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝘼𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣! and explore all nine stories from the series in our journal piece, 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤.

🔗: https://themfi.ca/en/journal/beyond-one-week

10/03/2026

Truth and Reconciliation Week may be over, but the stories shared during our series are still here. In our latest journal piece, 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤, we've brought all nine TREES Network stories together in one place so you can continue listening and learning throughout the year.

Read the full story:

Support for the education, health, and wellbeing of Indigenous youth and their communities

09/30/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞?

At Keethanow Elementary School in Stanley Mission, Saskatchewan, children are learning on the Land alongside Knowledge Keepers, Elders, educators and community members. They are learning to hunt, fish and trap. They are hearing their language and the stories that connect them to where they come from. They are also learning what it means to care for the Land and respect what it provides.

For the people sharing their stories in 𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙, this work is about much more than taking learning outside the classroom. They speak about the loss of language and a sense of belonging that many Indigenous people have experienced, but they also speak about what they hope will continue with the next generation.

Grace Mckenzie, Director of Education in Stanley Mission says, "𝐌𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞."

That hope can be seen throughout this film. It is in the teachings being passed from one generation to the next and in children having the opportunity to know where they come from. It is also in a school that recognizes Cree culture, language and ways of learning as part of their education.

As we close our Truth and Reconciliation Week series, we invite you to spend some time with 𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙 and hear directly from the people doing this wok in Stanley Mission.

Watch the full documentary on the TREES Network.
🔗 : https://treesnetwork.themfi.ca/2026/09/29/keethanow-rooted-in-the-land/