How Native Canadians View Literacy: A Summary of Findings

The administration & results of a survey conducted with Native adults (N = 56) with limited reading skills in British Columbia are summarized. The survey was an attempt to go directly to potential Native adult literacy learners & ask them their views on four primary questions: What are the purposes & values of literacy? What past barriers interfered with learning to read & write? What do potential learners consider as a positive learning environment? What current barriers are there to participation? The results indicated that potential Native literacy learners are not motivated by any one factor & that their purposes for acquiring increased literacy skills are enormously varied & complex; eg, 50%+ of the respondents rated 6 of 8 categories of literacy goals as "very important," & anecdotal responses further elaborated the range of personal purposes. These results contrast sharply with those reported in US research on adult participation patterns. Identified past barriers were similarly varied, revolving around dysfunctional homes, poverty, personal problems, inappropriateness of schools, prejudice, residential schools, & the cultural clash between the home & school. Preferred learning environments included on-reserve & all-Native situations using small group & tutorial structures. One of the most striking results was the marked stated preference for some variation of "watch then do" instructional methods, the approach 95% said they had used most successfully to learn skills in the past. Current barriers to participation were led by lack of appropriate programming in respondents' community, lack of information, lack of finances, & use of inappropriate instructional approaches. It is concluded that the student-centered, community-based programs for Native adult literacy learners suggested by the research as being necessary for maximum participation & effectiveness are in stark contrast to many computer-based & packaged programs now being offered. Only by engaging in a process of adaptation & accommodation, a process that involves going directly to the learner, can successful literacy programs for Native adult learners be developed. 3 Tables, 18 References. Modified AA