Native Family Literacy Program

Posted: January 9, 2008

Native Family Literacy Program

A new Native Family Literacy Program has been developed in Ontario based on the Aboriginal Literacy and Parenting Skills (A-LAPS) program developed some years ago in Alberta. It consists of eight units of instruction with can be used in sequence or as individual stand alone units of instruction, depending on the needs of the participants.

The units cover Speaking & Listening Skills, Passing on our Values and Traditions, Schools and our Children, Building Self-Esteem in our Children, Talking with our Children, Discipline, Let's TAlk about Food, and Families as Teams.

Each unit contains a Medicine Wheel Teaching and Aboriginal story linked to the theme and a variety of literacy-based activities to build parenting skills while also improving literacy and transferable essential skills.

ONLC would like to thank those who worked so hard to produce the new Native Family Literacy program package that is currently being field-tested across Ontario.

The project Working Group consisted of ONLC staff and Native LBS practitioners Cathy Noganosh from the Wasauksing First Nation in Parry Sound, Darlene King from the Nbaakaawin Kwe: Native Women's Learning Centre in Toronto, Linda Wright from the Sioux Hudson Literacy Council in Sioux Lookout, and Lynn Mooney from the Chippewas of Georgina Island in Sutton West. The final member was Ian Jacobsen from the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres in Toronto.

Special thanks also goes out to Elder Vera White Eyes Jones of the Chippewas of Nawash at Cape Croker who shared her knowledge and wisdom so freely with us and Tanya Noganosh, a First Nations artist who supplied the artwork for the program.

Without their help this project could not have been completed.

The final draft package of materials is now being piloted by the following programs:

- the Literacy and Basic Skills program of the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre

- the Aboriginal Head Start Program in Fort Erie

- the United Native Literacy Program in Fort Frances

- the N'Swakamok Friendship Centre in Sudbury

- the Ska:na Family Learning Centre in Windsor

- the B.E.S.T. Native Program in Windsor and

Their feedback and suggestions will be incorporated into the final Family Literacy program which should be ready for distribution in early April 2008.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of this program please contact the ONLC office at 519-371-5594 or toll free at 1-800-971-2255.