Empowering People & Building Competent Communities. Chapter 15

For the Aboriginal peoples of Ontario, literacy is a process involving not only individuals, but also the whole community. Literacy leads to development and empowerment, which contribute to self-determination. Once the wards of the federal government, Aboriginal communities now are assuming more control over their own affairs. Education, including literacy, is key to such control. Aboriginal literacy practitioners seek to "place education into culture" by using the holistic approach and by considering the elements of self, community, family, and the universe (world view) during program development. The Ontario Native Literacy Coalition (ONLC) is comprised of 31 urban and reserve-based literacy projects. ONLC provides networking opportunities, training for Native literacy practitioners, culturally sensitive program materials, and advocacy on all levels. Literacy practitioners are from the home community and have knowledge of community members and culture, a sincere belief in the student, creative abilities, organizational skills, and deep commitment. Community coordinators recruit students, train tutors, develop or adapt materials to local situations, and raise funds. Because programs are community based and student centered, a variety of models have emerged, many of them involving cultural education and the whole language approach. Fourteen projects include literacy in an Aboriginal language. Practitioners meet for a week every 3 months, take courses, and visit successful programs. They identified the two most important courses in helping them enhance student self-esteem: the Healing Circle and Prior Learning Assessment (a portfolio development process). (SV)