Aboriginal stories, poems and songs focus of project

Page 16

From living with the Chinook winds of the south to life on a trapline in the north, the Learning Centre Literacy Association in Edmonton wants your story.

Humorous experiences, serious matters, a poem or song, tales about urban living, or just life in general, Elders and adults can have their written material published with a new literacy project.

Experiences of Aboriginal people in Alberta is the focus; the centre would like to publish easy to read stories and instructional support materials based on the submitted writings of Aboriginal people across Alberta.

On March 26, the Learning Centre Literacy Association held an open house with the purpose of launching the new project. Representatives from the education community were present as was a member representing the Metis Nation of Alberta. Fresh bannock and coffee were served.

"We want to get stories off of Aboriginal people who were raised on the trapline, homemakers, lawyers, or students," said Phyllis Steeves, co-ordinator, (volunteers and operations) at the centre.

"By going to different communities, we can find different ideas and stories," she said.

"The Learning Centre Literacy Association's mission is to engage people in community-based learning and literacy development that further enables positive changes for themselves as per outlined by the membership of the centre," said Steeves.

Fort McMurray, Slave Lake, Lethbridge and Red Deer are some of the communities that will be visited within the coming months. The centre plans to hold workshops during the community visits. The idea is to help the people write their stories. Others will be able to record their stories if they are not comfortable with the writing process.

The learning centre shares building space with the Boyle Street Community Services Co-Operative. The centre's programs began in the early 1980s.

"Some of the past Aboriginal students have given us some of their stories, and the students and staff really enjoyed them," said Mary Norton, co-ordinator of students and programs at the centre.

"We look forward to receiving many different stories. We are excited about this project," Norton said.

"The idea was formed while working with Aborginal students at the centre. There was a shortage of stories that interested them, ones they could identify with," said Steeves.

The project, which began in August of last year, began to take shape. The funding for the project was approved in February of this year. A series of three books will be published by the centre; each book will hold a collection of 30 stories, poems and songs. A fourth book will accompany the three as a comprehension guide.

"The three story books will have art illustrations and photographs to illustrate the stories," said Steeves. "Artists will be invited to submit drawings to the centre.