The Martin Family Initiative

06/23/2026

The TREES Network has a new home, and there is a lot to explore.

The Training & Resources for Early Education & Schools (TREES) Network is MFI’s online video and learning platform. Built to host and steward resources created with Indigenous community partners, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers from across the country, the TREES Network brings ready-to-use tools to educators and early learning professionals working with children, youth and families.

The revamped site features a searchable Video Library, a personalized Learning Hub where you can bookmark content and connect with peers, and new resources being added all the time.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or returning to discover something new, head to the link below to explore.

Visit the TREES Network:

Take a Tour of TREES Not sure where to start? These videos walk you through the TREES Network and show you how to find your way around. Our Approach to Stewardship Learn how the TREES Network is guided by relationships, reciprocity and community leadership. Guided by Community Knowledge Explore feat...

06/21/2026

June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day. We honour the leadership and strength of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.

From welcoming new life into the world, to passing on knowledge and values to the next generation, to the many paths youth are building toward their own futures — these are some of the ways First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples continue to shape what comes next.

At MFI, we are privileged to learn from Indigenous leaders, educators and young people, who share their cultures, stories and values with us every day.

Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day!

06/15/2026

As part of our student business spotlight series, we’re showcasing the bold ideas that IYEP students are building and the inspiration behind them.

For Blake Peters, BuckStream is connected to something bigger than selling outdoor equipment online; his business offers a way for him to connect with his community and celebrate his family’s history of hunting and fishing.

BuckStream is a hunting and fishing supply business focused on affordable outdoor gear, including camouflage clothing, fishing equipment, backpacks and game calls. His goal is to create a business that people trust—especially those who spend a lot of time outdoors and rely on dependable equipment.

What stood out in Blake’s plan was how much thought he put into building relationships within his community. He wrote about supporting local tournaments, working with businesses in the area and creating youth programs that teach outdoor knowledge and ethical harvesting practices.

He also spent time thinking through the realities of running an online business, including managing shipping, inventory, customer service, website safety and community outreach.

It was great to see the care that Blake put into shaping a business rooted in tradition and local connections. That kind of thoughtful planning is exactly what makes these projects so valuable; IYEP projects give students the opportunity to build business ideas connected to their own interests, families and communities while learning skills they can carry forward into the future.

06/12/2026

We spent Day 3 of our Early Years Gathering out on the land, and we were grateful for the opportunity to experience it together.

Throughout the day, partners visited Turtle Island Childcare Centre,First Light, Cape Spear, and Fishing For Success at Island Rooms of Petty Harbour. At every stop, we were welcomed by people who generously shared their time and helped us better understand this place and its history.

A theme that carried through the day was the value of learning through experience. Watching children take part in a smudge at Turtle Island Childcare Centre and hearing stories shared at First Light were reminders that some of the most meaningful learning happens when we take the time to listen.

Thank you to everyone who welcomed us and shared their knowledge throughout the day. We are grateful for the experiences and conversations that will stay with us long after the gathering ends.

06/11/2026

Our Early Years Gathering is underway in St. John’s.

We opened our time together with a prayer led by Elder Ellen from First Light, along with the lighting of a Kudlik and an opportunity for participants to take part in a smudge. Over the first two days, partners from across the country have spent time learning together, reflecting on their work, and considering what leadership and wellness look like in their own communities.

One thing that continues to surface in our conversations is how much we can learn from one another. While every community is unique, many of the hopes and challenges we carry are remarkably similar.

Thank you to First Light for welcoming us to Newfoundland and Labrador. We’re grateful to be together and looking forward to the days ahead.

06/03/2026

When Mya Johnston-Christie started building her business plan, it came from a personal experience with her own dog.

She explains that her dog’s fear of groomers inspired her to create a plan for Pawprints & Play Co., an online business where people can order dog supplies and grooming products to use at home.

Her business plan includes selling dog food, treats, toys, collars, leashes, clothing, grooming supplies and personalized products. She also spent time thinking through how the business would actually operate, from shipping and website security to inventory and customer service.

One thing that stood out in Mya’s presentation was the amount of thought she put into customer experience. She wrote about making products affordable, building trust with customers and helping people feel more comfortable caring for their dogs at home.

Mya also included how she wants her business to support her community. In her plan, she shares that part of her sales would go toward local animal shelters, along with monthly donations of dog food.

Assignments like this encourage students to take an interest or personal experience and build it into something bigger. Along the way, they practice planning, budgeting, marketing and problem solving in tangible, hands-on ways.

Mya’s business plan showed just how much planning can go into building an online business, and we’re grateful to her for sharing her business plan with us!

06/01/2026

Work is underway on a new set of Early Years resources being developed in partnership with the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM).

On May 13-14, Christine Mejia, Curriculum Writer & Facilitator, Ramona Shawana, Curriculum and Learning Strategist, and Micah Flavin, Content Developer, were in Winnipeg with the FNHSSM team to begin discussions around the resources and the work ahead. The gathering brought partners together to share and discuss ideas and priorities to help with shaping the direction of the project.

We were also pleased to be joined by Don Monkman, the project's illustrator, whose artwork will help bring the resources to life!

The team stayed an extra day to participate in the FNHSSM's Babies Are Sacred Safe Sleep Training. The session provided valuable learning and an opportunity for relationship-building that will help inform the development of the resources moving forward.

Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and vision! We're excited to continue working together and look forward to seeing this project take shape in the months ahead!

05/28/2026

📸 Some pictures of our first day at Seabird Island School this week!

MFI team members Chloe Ferguson (CEO), Jenn Wroe (Literacy Coach), Heather Pennie (Educational Well-Being Program Director), Griffin Marsh (Economic Well-Being Program Director), and Ramona Shawana (Curriculum and Learning Strategist), along with filmmaker Jay Gould from The Story Foundry have been spending time with educators and students to capture the incredible work happening through Seabird Island Community School's land-based learning and the Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship programs.

One of the highlights this week has been seeing students in the high school entrepreneurship program prepare, brine, and smoke fish as part of their learning. Their final products will be sold during Seabird Island Days this weekend.

Ts’íthomé to Seabird Island for welcoming us!

05/25/2026

As Early Years Visitors Week comes to a close, we’ve spent this week reflecting on the people behind the work and the relationships they build with families every day.

Through Flower and Adrianna’s stories, we heard about the trust it takes to be welcomed into someone’s home. We heard about young parents looking for support, children running to the door when their Visitor arrives, hard conversations shaped around kitchen tables, and the small moments that stay with families long after the visit ends.

Early Years Visitors do so much more than “visit.”

They listen without judgement. They help parents feel seen. They answer questions, share resources, celebrate milestones, and show up again and again for families during some of the most important years of a child’s life.

For many families, these relationships become part of their support system. For many Visitors, this work becomes part of who they are.

To all the Early Years Visitors working in communities every day, thank you. Thank you for the care you carry, the trust you build, and the way you continue showing up for your children and families. Your work matters, and this week reminded us just how much can grow from one person taking the time to show up for another. ♥️

05/25/2026

Every family remembers the people who showed up for them during the early years. ♥️

Thank you to the Msɨt Mijua’ji’jk Home Visitors for the time and support you continue to give to children and families across your communities.