The Mi'kmaw Cultural Foundation was established in 2014 to preserve and promote the culture and heritage of the Mi’kmaq of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Over the past few years, the organization has grown significantly, expanding its projects, programming and budget. This growth has necessitated a shift towards social enterprise, reducing reliance on government grants and funding.
For the organization’s President & CEO, Economic Nutrition was initially inspired by a fondness for Shorefast and its CEO. “I love everything about Shorefast, Fogo Island and I love listening to Zita Cobb speak,” enthuses Jeffrey Young. Of course, the value proposition represented by Economic Nutrition certification also encouraged the decision to join the first partner cohort this past summer.
For the organization’s President & CEO, Economic Nutrition was initially inspired by a fondness for Shorefast and its CEO. “I love everything about Shorefast, Fogo Island and I love listening to Zita Cobb speak,” enthuses Jeffrey Young. Of course, the value proposition represented by Economic Nutrition certification also encouraged the decision to join the first partner cohort this past summer.
Photo Credit: Mi'kmaw Cultural Foundation ©2025
Keeping it local and accountable
Economic Nutrition encourages transparency and accountability in how funds are used, explains Young. It allows funders, donors, investors and the general community to see the direct impact of their contributions. "It's about showing them where our money is going, which in turn supports our social enterprise efforts," Young explains.
The organization’s involvement in the Economic Nutrition initiative has been a transformative experience. Young and his team have become even more conscious of their spending, prioritizing local purchases to maximize community impact. "It really opens your eyes to see where you're spending,” he shares.
The organization’s involvement in the Economic Nutrition initiative has been a transformative experience. Young and his team have become even more conscious of their spending, prioritizing local purchases to maximize community impact. "It really opens your eyes to see where you're spending,” he shares.
Local buying, Far-reaching impact
“I will try everything in my power to make it local,” he says, adding if local isn’t possible, he’ll keep the purchase within the province, or, at least, in Canada. That commitment extends to his personal life too. Young shares how the recent purchase of a new bedroom set found him searching far and wide for a product made in Newfoundland.
Team member Katherine (Ciel) Murray highlights the broader implications of the Economic Nutrition model. "As a nonprofit, our goal is to support the local community. This initiative extends that philosophy to every part of our organization, from where we buy food to furniture. It's about making a difference to real people in our community,” she says. “And something you might not even be particularly aware of until you learn about it.”
Team member Katherine (Ciel) Murray highlights the broader implications of the Economic Nutrition model. "As a nonprofit, our goal is to support the local community. This initiative extends that philosophy to every part of our organization, from where we buy food to furniture. It's about making a difference to real people in our community,” she says. “And something you might not even be particularly aware of until you learn about it.”
Photo Credit: Mi'kmaw Cultural Foundation ©2025
“I will try everything in my power to make it local."
— Jeffrey Young, President & CEO, Mi'kmaw Cultural Foundation
The impact of Economic Nutrition can be felt internally as well. The Foundation's commitment to transparency and community has fostered a sense of pride among its staff. "It makes our team feel proud to work for an organization that genuinely supports the local community," Young adds.
Crunching the numbers
To be sure, the certification process is a rigorous one, requiring meticulous data compilation and analysis. The time commitment the program required was sometimes a challenge, says Young, especially during what was a busy period. Murray also shares her experience with the detailed work involved. "I've been going through every transaction and categorizing it. I'm about halfway done with a year's worth of transactions. After sorting everything out, I'll be able to crunch the numbers," she sighs with a smile.
Nearing completion of the certification, the team remains dedicated to the initiative. "It's going to be so interesting to see the results. I don't know if I'm nervous or excited," Young admits. “I want those numbers, those percentages to be higher into the following year.”
No matter the results, Young is eager to incorporate the tool into their work moving forward. And he’s grateful for the Shorefast team that has helped them along. “We’re incredibly grateful for the support, the resources they provided, and for being a part of the pilot program, “he says. “It was a great success.”
Economic Nutrtition Partner Series
We launched a new blog series at Shorefast highlighting the partners of our first Economic Nutrition (EN) cohort. The inaugural program attracted organizations across Canada representing diverse interests, sectors and missions. But they all had one thing in common: a desire to uplift their community economies in more impactful ways. Being a part of the Economic Nutrition initiative was consistent with that mission.
