Father determined to read

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When 15-year-old Clifford Moyah first moved into Lloydminster, Sask., after living most of his life on a reserve, he found that he was truly a stranger in a strange land.

Town life was not only scary and confusing, to be a fluent Cree speaker in an English speaking world, unable to read, write or even ask for directions in English, it was also very intimidating

Moyah soon adjusted, however, learning bits and pieces of English, but he still found it difficult to express himself or communicate in his new language.

At the age of 26, he became a single parent, the proud father of a set of twins. He sought advice from his family on how to best raise his son and daughter on his own and made a pledge that his children would grow up equally fluent in both Cree and English.

The twins, Patrick and Patricia, are bright, happy children who presented no real problems for their dad, until they started kindergarten. When the twins brought home a letter from school and a homework assignment from their teacher, Moyah found himself way out of his depth.

"I remember that it was scary and I didn't know what to do. My twins brought a letter home and I couldn't read it. The teachers wanted me to help my children with their homework, and I didn't want anyone to know that I couldn't read or write. Moyah felt so bad that he cried.

After going to an interview with the teachers at the children's school, Moyah came home with a plan. The teachers had encouraged him to take the literacy course at the Lloydminster Native Friendship Centre and become a reader, both for himself and for his twins.

Moyah enrolled in the 26-week literacy course and, although he found it difficult in the beginning, he soon learned to juggle his job as a janitor with his schooling and his life as a single parent.

Lessons in reading, writing and arithmatic, tied in with a curriculum full of life skills, were beginning to give Moyah an edge he had never had before. Going to the bank and into stores became easier because he was learning to count, add and subtract.

Taking his reading to a Grade 6 level from a Grade 2 level empowered him to do something he had only dreamed of before - take and pass his beginner's test for a driver's license.

Learning new life skills, taking field trips with his classmates and buckling down to a routine of challenging work, gave his self-esteem a big boost and solidified his desire to carry on and learn as much as he could, said Moyah.

Best of all, he can go home after school, take good care of his twins, and help them with their homework after supper.

It was during graduation ceremonies of the Aboriginal Literacy Program that Moyah got his biggest surprise. He was presented with two awards, one for best attendance and the other for most improved student in his graduating class.

"Learning to read and write makes you feel much better about yourself. When you think about the way you were before, and what you can do now, you can really see a big change. I hit rock bottom when I couldn't help Patrick and Patricia with their homework last year, and now this year, I can.

"What's also great is that I can even read them a bedtime story now, something I couldn't do before. If you can't read or write, don't be embarrassed or scared. Take a course and you will feel better about yourself, and if you have friends who can't read or write, encourage them to take a literacy course like I did."