Project provides network

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Organizations working to improve literacy among Aboriginal people in Saskatchewan are being given a helping hand by the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Project, a two-year joint venture of the Yorkton Tribal Council and the Dumont Technical Institute.

Two initiatives being planned as part of the project include developing a directory of Aboriginal literacy programs, and hosting of a provincial Aboriginal literacy gathering.

Sharon Miller is project coordinator with the literacy project. She said the directory will include information about current Aboriginal literacy programs operating in Saskatchewan, as well as on programs that have been offered in the past.

"I'm not sure directory is quite the right term. It's more like a catalogue or a resource book. So we really want to find out what have people done, and what's worked, and where have they struggled. And what have they learned, and what do they need.

"Actually, one of the things that people have said over the years is that there was no way to learn from the projects, and to share information about what had happened, and what else might be done among different organizations. So the directory is really a way to share that information, and encourage people to communicate with each other and share information, and really learn from each other's experiences."

The intent is to have the directory on the Internet within a year, which will make it easy to update as new literacy projects start up. The first print version will be launched at the provincial Aboriginal literacy gathering, being planned for May, 2002 at the Echo Valley Conference Centre near Fort Qu'Appelle.

Through the literacy gathering, Miller explained, learners, Elders, practitioners, community leaders, government representatives and educators will have a chance "to really share their best practices, and the new approaches that are being taken to literacy."

In addition to working to improve literacy of Aboriginal people in English, the work done through the Provincial Aboriginal Literacy Project will also reflect a broader approach to literacy being taken by a number of First Nations communities and organizations, Miller explained.